The ability of anabolic steroids to reverse the deleterious effects of chronic corticosteroids on intestinal anastomotic healing was studied in 32 rabbits. Rabbits received once daily intramuscular injections of saline solution (controls), 0.1 milligram per kilogram of dexamethasone, dexamethasone plus low-dose anabolic steroids (2 milligrams per kilogram of nandrolone decanoate) or dexamethasone plus high-dose anabolic steroid (10 milligrams per kilogram of nandrolone decanoate). Two weeks later, the rabbits underwent small intestinal (SI) or large intestinal (LI) anastomoses. Postoperatively, injections were continued as before with the addition of high-dose anabolic steroids (20 milligrams per kilogram of nandrolone decanoate) to one-half of the dexamethasone only group. Seven days postoperatively, the rabbits had in situ assessment of anastomotic bursting pressure (ABP) and histologic examination using a modified Ehrlich/Hunt scale. Results demonstrated that dexamethasone severely impaired the healing of SI and LI anastomoses, with decreases in ABP to almost 50 percent of normal values and with similar reduction in histologic parameters. High-dose anabolic steroids reversed this inhibitory effect when initiated preoperatively or post-operatively, with increase in ABP to 72 percent of normal for SI anastomoses and 83 percent of normal for LI. No adverse effect of anabolic steroid administration was evident.