[Metabolic surface area of the microvessels of the gastric serosa]

After injecting Indian ink--gelatin mass and vegetable peroxidase, parameters of microvessels in the rat gastric tunica serosa have been measured. The capillary diameters make 3.99 and 4.1 mcm, their length--240 and 259 mcm, density of the tunica serosa are--31 and 26 per 1 mm2. Using these parameters and the value of the hydraulic conductivity, the total area of the capillaries surface (0.09 mm2) and the volume of the filtrated (3.8 X 10(3) mcm3) and reabsorbed (115 X 10(3) mcm3) liquors are calculated. Comparing the volumes of the liquor transported in the visceral layer of the peritoneum and in its other parts, it is possible to consider the mechanisms maintaining water balance in the peritoneal cavity.