Previous studies revealed that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) induces commitment to the adipocyte lineage in pluripotent stem cells. The present study explored the role of endogenous BMP activity in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The expression of phospho-Smad1/5/8 was monitored because BMP transmits its signal through Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation. Phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 was higher in proliferating preadipocytes, and lower in differentiating adipocytes after removing differentiation inducers. Reporter assays revealed that dorsomorphin predominantly inhibits the BMP pathway but not the structurally related TGF-beta/activin pathway. The addition of dorsomorphin to the culture medium prior to treatment with differentiation inducers impaired lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. The present study indicated that activation of BMP signaling in preadipocytes is required for these cells to initiate the adipogenic program.