Objective To investigate the relationship between cell proliferation and β-tubulin of rabbit articular chondrocytes under intermittent tension. Methods Chondrocytes were cultured in monolayer on flexible substrates and subjected to cyclic strain 0-5% with sinusoidal waveforms at 0.5 Hz for 3h/ day over 3days by using FX-4000TTM unit. Cell viability, extracelluar matrix, β-tubulin immunofluorescence and cell cycle were measured respectively. Results The cell viability and extracelluar matrix tests showed that articular chondrocytes cultured in monolayer grew well in vitro. There was no difference in the extracellular matrix synthesis between the loaded group and control group. However, the cell proliferation index increased significantly under intermittent tension. Furthermore, cultured chondrocytes underwent significant morphological changes when subjected to intermittent tensile stress. The cells elongated and aligned in a certain direction. Accompanying this shape change was a reorganization of β-tubulin in the direction of the cells’ long axis. Conclusion Our findings suggest that intermittent tension may have an active effect on the cell growth, and β-tubulin of articular chondrocytes plays an important role in the transduction of intermittent tensile stress which cause reorientation of articular chondrocytes.