Objective To investigate the influence and mechanism of erythropoietin (EPO) in renal blood flow after limb ischemia reperfusion (LIR). Methods Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, LIR group and EPO+LIR group with ten in each group. The values of renal blood flow, plasma creatinine (Cr), urea nitrogen (BUN) content in plasma, kidney tissue wet to dry ratio (W/D), nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in re-nal tissue were detected in three groups. The immunohistochemistry assay was used to detect the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) in renal tissue. The morphological changes of renal tissue were observed with light microscope. Results The renal blood flow was significantly decreased, while the val-ues of Cr, BUN, W/D, NO, ET-1, NOS, expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was significantly increased in LIR group than those of control group (P<0.05). Broaden interstitial and infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed in the renal tissue under light microscope. In the EPO+LIR group, the renal blood flow increased, the values of Cr, BUN, W/D, NO, ET-1 and NOS, expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 decreased significantly compared with those of LIR group (P<0.05). The patho-logical changes were alleviated in EPO+LIR group. Conclusion EPO can improve renal function, increase renal blood flow in rats after LIR. The mechanism may be related to the decreased edema, changed renal vasomotor function and decreased in-flammation.