Objective:To investigate the effect of germanium against local expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and histamine (HA) in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats.Methods: Male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=10): blank control group,model group,low(10 mg/kg),medium(20 mg/kg),and high dose(40 mg/kg)β-carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) groups,and indomethacin(IDMT,1 mg/kg)control group.Rat model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was induced in the later 4 groups by Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA).The body weights and the paw volumes of rats in all groups were determined before FCA injection and d 3,6,9,12,15,18,and 21 after injection; the rates of weight gain and paw swelling were calculated.The contents of HA and 5-HT in inflammatory tissues were measured at d 21 immediately after rats were beheaded.Results: The rates of weight gains in middle and high dose germanium groups and IDMT group were significantly higher than those in the low dose germanium group and model groups(P<0.01)at d 21,but had no difference with those of blank control group.The rates of paw swelling in the three germanium groups were significantly lower than that of the model group(P<0.01),and higher than that of the IDMT group(P<0.01 or 0.05) ; that of the high germanium group was significantly lower than those of the other 2 germanium groups (P< 0.05).The contents of HA in the local asthmatic tissues in the 3 germanium and IDMT groups were significantly lower than that of the model group,and those of the low and middle germanium groups were significantly higher than those of the higher germanium and IDMT groups (P<0.01).The contents of 5-HT in middle and high germanium and IDMT groups were significantly lower than those of the model group and low germanium(P<0.01).Conclusion: Middle and high dose germanium may relieve local asthmatic inflammation in rats through inhibiting the release of HA and 5-HT,with its effect similar to that of IDMT.