Novel methods for determining the anabolic activity of a compound in muscle using microarrays to compare the in vivo changes of the genomic profile of mammalian muscle induced by a tested compound versus the corresponding changes induced by a known anabolic steroid. For example, in vivo changes of the genomic profile in the mouse induced by a tested compound may be compared to the genomic profile changes induced by the androgenic and anabolic steroid dihydrotestosterone (DHT).