Objective To investigate the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on neurological dysfunction score and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in perihematomal tissues in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), as well as the protective effect of rhEPO on perihematomal brain tissues after ICH in rats.Methods A total of 90 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, ICH control group, and rhEPO treatment group, with 30 in each group. The neurological dysfunction score at each time point after the surgery was obtained and compared across the three groups, and radioimmunoassay was used to measure the content of TNF-α in perihematomal brain tissues at different time points.Results Compared with the sham-operation group, the ICH control group had significantly lower neurological dysfunction scores at 12 hours and on days 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14(P<0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, the rhEPO treatment group had significantly lower neurological dysfunction scores at 12 hours and on days 1, 2, 3, and 7(P<0.05). Compared with the ICH control group, the rhEPO treatment group had significantly higher neurological dysfunction scores on days 2, 3, and 7(P<0.05). The ICH control group had a significantly higher content of TNF-α at 12 hours and on days 1, 2, and 3 than the sham-operation group (P<0.05). The rhEPO treatment group had a significantly higher content of TNF-α on days 1 and 2 than the sham-operation group (P<0.05). The rhEPO treatment group had a significantly lower content of TNF-α on days 1 and 2 than the ICH control group (P<0.05).Conclusions The rhEPO can reduce the content of TNF-α in perihematomal tissues in rats with ICH, improve their neurological function, and exert a protective effect against brain damage after ICH.