Mice were inoculated with human sarcoid tissue homogenates or with a first or a 
second passage homogenate of mouse tissue (including 0.2 mum membrane filtrates) 
originating from the inoculation of human sarcoid, Crohn's disease, or control 
tissue homogenates. Epithelioid and giant cell granulomas were present in the 
footpads and/or viscera of some of the mice given homogenates originating from 
each sarcoid or Crohn's disease tissue 15 months after inoculation but were not 
present in mice given control homogenates. Among mice given homogenates 
originating from human sarcoidosis, granulomas were present in many organs and 
tissues; in contrast, a pattern of selective dissemination of visceral 
granulomas was found among mice given homogenates originating from Crohn's 
disease. This differential distribution of visceral granulomas also followed the 
inoculation of 0.2 mum membrane filtrates. Granulomatous responses at Kveim test 
sites in the ear 9-17 months after inoculation of homogenatesoriginating from 
human sarcoidosis or Crohn's disease were confined to mice showing granulomas in 
footpads of viscera. The ability of the transmissible agents to induce 
granulomas in mice was destroyed when sarcoid or Crohn's tissues were autoclaved 
or when sarcoid homogenates were stored at -20degreesC for 1 week or exposed to 
60Co irradiation (2.5 MR).