Oral asaccharolytic Eubacterium saphenum, which are newly isolated Gram-positive rods and one of the predominant microorganisms in human periodontal pockets, were injected intraperitoneally in mice to elucidate their pathogenicity in periodontal diseases. Infiltrating immune cells in the peritoneal exudate were quantitated and intracellular T cell (CD4+/CD8+/yo+) production of cytokines IL-4 and IFN-y which are related to cellular and humoral immunity, respectively, was determined. Neutrophils appeared first in peritoneal exudates, followed by macrophages and lymphocytes, after the injection of either E. saphenum or Porphyromonas gingivalis. Intracellular IL-4+ and IFN-y+ yo T cells were detected in the exudates after the injection of E. saphenum (4.6±O.8% and lO.1±1.4%, respectively) and P. gingivalis (5.3±1.6% and lO.1±2.1 %, respectively). The intracellular production ofIL-4lIFN-y in CD4+/CD8+ T cells was rather low indicating that the main response was from yo T cells which initiated the immune reactions in mouse peritoneal cavities after injection of E. saphenum or P. gingivalis. Serum IgG and IgM levels were elevated in animals injected with E. saphenum and similarly with P. gingivalis. The present study showed that with slight differences, similar modes of cell response and cytokine and Ig production were observed after intraperitoneal injection of both E. saphenum and P. gingivalis, indicating that E. saphenum may play just as important a role in periodontal diseases as P.gingiva lis.