AIM: To investigate whether the human olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cells (OM-MSCs) can differentiate into photoreceptor cells in vitro. METHODS: Through the olfactory mucosa adherent method, olfactory mucosa was isolated, cultured and identified in vitro among mesenchymal stem cells. The cell surface markers were analyzed by flow cytometry, induced to differentiate into retinal photoreceptor cells in vitro, and the expression of rhodopsin was observed and identified by Immunofluorescence and Western blot methods. RESULTS: OM-MSCs from human were spindle cell-based, and showing radial colony arrangement. OM-MSCs were negative for CD34, CD45 and CD105, but positive for CD73 and CD90. Following induction, a strong positive reaction was produced by photoreceptor specific marker rhodopsin in the cells.