Objective To evaluate differences in genes expression of rat bone marrow stromal cells (rBMSCs) under continuous mechanical strain by gene microarray technology．Methods rBMSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro. Continuous stresses with amplitude of 10% and frequency of 1 Hz were applied on rBMSCs for 6 hours by Flexercell mechanical loading system to investigate rBMSC gene expression profiles, and quantitative PCR was used to verify gene expression changes related to osteoblastic differentiation. Results Compared with the control group, 1 244 differentially expressed genes were found in mechanical loading group, among which 793 genes were up-regulated, while 451 genes were down-regulated．GO (gene ontology) analysis suggested that differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in multicellular organismal development, cell differentiation, chemotaxis, cell adhesion and so on. Four signaling pathways as Notch, Wnt, FGF and IGF might participate in the regulation of stress-induced osteoblastic differentiation. PCR validation results were consistent with the gene chip results. Conclusions Mechanical stress could induce osteoblastic differentiation of the BMSCs, while several differentially expressed genes screened by gene microarray may attribute to this process.