Nicotine decreased high SBP, urinary protein excretion and the levels of cytokines in the LPS-induced PE rats. Nicotine increased the expression of α7nAChR and attenuated the activation of NF-κB p65 in the placenta. The cholinergic antagonist α-bungarotoxin reversed the protective effects of nicotine in preeclampsia rats. Nicotine ameliorates LPS-induced preeclampsia-like symptoms in pregnant rats may through α7nAChR.