Objective Seed cells are the hotspot of tissue engineering research. To study the seed cells with high potential of adipogenic differentiation for applying the adipose tissue engineering and increasing the constructing efficiency of adipose tissue engineering. Methods Mature adipocytes (MA) and adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) were harvestedfrom human fat aspirates via l iposuction by collagenase digestion. MA were cultured and induced to dedifferentiated adipocytes (DA) by ceil ing adherent culture method. DA and ADSCs were induced to adipogenic differentiation. The adipogenic abil ities of DA and ADSCs were compared by inverted phase contrast microscope observation, absorption spectrometry assay of oil red O staining, and cell counting of oil red O staining. Results MA could dedifferentiate into fibroblast-shaped DA. After adi pogenic differentiation, the inverted phase contrast microscope observation showed that there were much more l i pid droplet in DA than in ADSCs. Absorption spectrometry assay of oil red O staining showed there were significant l ipid droplet aggregation in DA 4 days of adipogenic induction. However, the same phenomenon could be observed in ADSCs at 10 days after differentiation. After 12 days, the absorption value of DA was higher than that of ADSCs, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). The cell counting of oil red O staining demonstrated that the adipogenic rates of DA and ADSCs were 65% ± 6% and 35% ± 5%, respectively, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The potential of adipogenic differentiation of DA is ber than that of ADSCs. DA is a promising seed cell of adipose tissue engineering.