The osteogenic in vitro effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on SD rat adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) was investigated. Rat ADSCs underwent LIPUS (intensity=100 rnW/cm(2)) or sham exposure for 8 min per treatment once everyday in vitro, and then the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralized nodule formation were assessed to evaluate the osteogenic effect of LIPUS on ADSCs. To further explore the underlying mechanism, the osteogenic-related gene mRNA expression was determined by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th day after exposure repectively. Westen blot was used to evaluate the protein expression levels of two osteogenic differentiation associated genes at 7th and 14th day repectively. It was found that ALP activity was increased after LIPUS exposure and LIPUS resulted in mineralized nodule formation of ADSCs in vitro. LIPUS-treated ADSCs displayed higher mRNA expression levels of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), osteocalcin (OCN), ALP and bone sialoprotein (BSP) genes than controls, and the protein levels of Runx2 and BSP were also increased. The results suggested that LIPUS may induce the osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs in vitro.