The compound 5‐azacytidine has been previously shown to convert cells of the rat embryonic fibroblastic cell line, C3H/10T1/2, into myoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. Rare, resident cells of bone marrow and periosteum, referred to as mesenchymal stem cells, have been shown to differentiate into a number of mesenchymal phenotypes including bone, cartilage, and adipocytes. Rat bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells were exposed to 5‐azacytidine beginning 24 h after seeding twice‐passaged cells into culture dishes. After an exposure of 24 h, long, multinucleated myotubes were observed in some of the dishes 7–11 days later. Cells containing Sudan black‐positive droplets in their cytoplasm were also observed. Thus, culture‐propagated rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells appear to have the capacity to be induced to differentiate in vitro into myogenic and adipocytic phenotypes, although nonmesenchymal cells (rat brain fibroblasts) cannot be so induced. Taken together, these observations provide support for the suggestion that mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow of postnatal organisms may provide a source for myoprogenitor cells which could function in clinically relevant myogenic regeneration. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.