Objective To explore the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-?) on brain damage following experimental intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) in rats.Methods We induced intracerebral hemorrhage models of rats with injecting autologous blood into the left caudate.The levels of TNF-? and water contents in perihematoma at different stages were examined by radioimmunoassay and wet-dry weight measurement,and neurobehavioral outcomes were assessed in the meanwhile.Results The levels of TNF-? at 12~96 h in ICH group were higher than those in control group(all(P