Objective To explore the DNA repair effect of rat adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) on chond-rocytes exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Methods ADSCs were isolated and cultured from the inguinal adipose tissue of Sprague Dawley rat by digestion with collagenase type I. ADSCs cell phenotype was assayed with flow cytometry. Multiple differentiation capability of ADSCs at passage 3 was identified with osteogenic and adipogenic induction. The chondrocytes were obtained from rat articular cartilage by digestion with collagenase type II and were identified with toluidine blue staining. The chondrocytes at passage 3 were irradiated with 40 J/m2 UV and cultured with normal medium (irradiated group), and medium containing the ADSCs supernatant (ADSCs supernatant group) or ADSCs was used for co-culture (ADSCs group) for 24 hours; no irradiation chondrocytes served as control group. The cell proliferation was estimated by MTS method. The expression of phosphorylated histone family 2A variant (γH2AX) was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Results ADSCs presented CD29(+), CD44(+), CD106(-), and CD34(-); and results of the alizarin red staining and oil red O staining were positive after osteogenic and adipogenic induction. Cell proliferation assay demonstrated the absorbance (A) values were 2.20±0.10 (control group), 1.34±0.04 (irradiated group), and 1.57±0.06 (ADSCs supernatant group), showing significant difference between groups (P<0.05). Immunofluorescence and Western blot showed that the γH2AX protein expression was significantly increased in irradiated group, ADSCs supernatant group, and ADSCs group when compared with control group (P<0.05), and the expression was significantly decreased in ADSCs supernatant group and ADSCs group when compared with irradiated group (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between ADSCs supernatant group and ADSCs group (P>0.05). Conclusion ADSCs can increase the cell proliferation and down-regulate the γH2AX protein expression of irradiated cells, indicating ADSCs contribute to the repair of irradiated chondrocyte.