Objective To examine the iron content and the expression of hepcidin in early period after subarach-noid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats, and to explore the role of hepcidin in dysregulation of brain iron metabolism after SAH. Methods Totally 90 adult male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups:the sham-operation group and SAH group. The SAH model was established by single blood injection to prechiasmatic cistern. Immunohistochemical and Western Blotting were used to examine the expression of hepcidin at 12, 24, 48 and 72h after SAH. Meanwhile, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer was used to detect the iron content. Results Immunochemistry showed that hepcidin expression in rats in SAH group began to rise at 12 h(0.30±0.06)and gradually increased over time until 72 h(0.56±0.07)compared with the sham group(0.19±0.05). The expression of hepcidin was significantly higher in SAH group than in the sham group(F=31.911, P<0.05). Western blot showed that hepcidin expression in rats in SAH group began to rise at 12h(0.481±0.065) and gradually increased over time until 72h(1.627±0.143)Compared with the sham group(0.238±0.047). The expression of hepcidin was significantly higher in SAH group than in the sham group after SAH(F=147.314,P<0.05). Iron content in SAH group began to rise at 12h after SAH(58.50±9.19)and gradually increased until 72 h(99.34±7.68). The iron con-tents in SAH group were higher at every time points than those in sham group(43.51±4.59)(F=28.799,P﹤0.05). The ex-pression of hepcidin was correlated with the iron content in SAH group(r=0.914,P﹤0.01). Conclusion The increase in iron content following SAH is associated with the increased hepcidin expression.