To explore the possibility and condition of differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal cells (BMSCs) to neural cells in vitro, BMSCs from whole bone marrow of rats were cultured. The BMSCs of passage 3 were identified with immunocytochemical staining of CD44 (+), CD71 (+) and CD45 (-). There were type I and type II cells in BMSCs. Type I BMSCs were spindle-shaped and strong positive in immunocytochemical staining of CD44 and CD71, whereas flat and big type II BMSCs were lightly stained. The BMSCs of same passage were induced to differentiate into neural cells by beta-mercaptoethanol (BME). After induction by BME, the type I BMSCs withdrew to form neuron-like round soma and axon-like and dendrite-like processes, and were stained positively for neurofilament (NF). The type II BMSCs did not change in the BME medium and were negatively or slightly stained of NF.