Orthodontic force is a mechanical stress controlling both of tooth movement and skeletal growth. The mechanical stress stimulate bone cells that may exert some influence on bone remodeling. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in cellular activity depending on mechanical stresses such as compressive and tensile force by determining the alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity. A clonal osteogenic cell line MC3T3-E1 was seeded into a 24-well plate(2 x 10⁴/well). At the confluent phase, a continuous compressive hydrostatic pressure(25g/cm^², 300g/cm^²) and continuous tensile hydrostatic pressure( -25g/cm^², -300g/cm^²) were applied for 4, 6, 10, 14, 18, 20 days respectively by a diaphgragm pump. At the end of the stimulation period, cell layers were prepared for ALP activity assay. The ALP activity of the compressive group increased more than that of the tensile group at same force magnitude, whereas the cells responded to a similar pattern regardless of the type of mechanical stress. The ALP activity of the compressive and tensile group turned into the level of the control group as the length of time increased. These results indicated that a mechanical stress may be more effective on cellular activity during active cellular proliferation and differentiation periods. The time to achieve maximum ALP activity was delayed as the mechanical stress increased in both the compressive and the tensile group. Accordingly, the magnitude of the stress rather than the type of mechanical stress may have more influence on cellular activity.