Objective To observe the regulation of α-7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors(α-7 nAChRs) by nicotine in the ventral tegmental area(VTA), the substantia nigra(SN) and the cortex of the rat. Methods Nicotine exposed animal models were established. The changes of α-7 nAChRs proteins and mRNA were observed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in VTA,SN and cortex, and the expression of α-7 nAChRs proteins by Western blotting in PC12 cells. Results The expression of α-7 nAChRs proteins in cortex and mRNA in VTA and SN were upregulated by nicotine. The expressions of α-7 nAChRs in PC12 cells were in proportion to and dependent on the time