ABSTRACT(1) Both the anabolic agent trienbolone acetate (3-oxo-17-β-hydroxy- 4,9,11-estratriene acetate) and testosterone subcutaneously injected into entire female rats caused an increase in growth rate compared with placebo controls (P<0·01 andP<0·001 respectively). The trienbolone acetate rats grew slower than the testosterone-treated animals (P< 0·01). This may reflect differences in the mode of action of the steroids.(2) In castrate males there were no significant differences in growth rate between the trienbolone acetate, testosterone or placebo control rats (P>0·05).(3) Trienbolone acetate reduced the rate of myofibrillar protein degradation in female rats, within 3 days of treatment, at least as judged by Nt-methylhistidine excretion. The treated rats had superior nitrogen retentions (P<0·01) and feed conversions (P< 0·001).(4) The data suggest that the rat is a suitable model on which to test the mode of action of trienbolone acetate.