The aim of the present investigation was to see whether an anabolic steroid, nandrolone phenylpropionate (NPP), exerts protienanabolic effects under such adverse nutritional conditions as protein deficiency and protein-energy malnutrition in male rats. feeding on a low-protein (8% casein) diet resulted in a marked reduction in body weight gain that was associated with reductions in body protein and protein content of gastrocnemius muscle. Administration of NPP (4 mg/kg body weight) did not alter muscle and body protein depletion induced by a low-protein diet. 50% food restriction caused reductions in body protein and in protein content of gastrocnemius muscle. These reductions were partially prevented by NPP (4 mg/kg body weight). Food restriction did not affect plasma concentration of corticosterone, insulin, or tetosterone plus dihydrotestosterone. On the other hand, neither plasma concentration of corticosterone nor insulin were affected by NPP. The present results show that anabolic steroids do not express anabolic effects under conditions of protein deficiency, but in protein-energy malnutrition, anabolic steroids exert their anabolic effects even in male rats.