Brief Answer:
Crystallin, Interesting, yes it degrades

Detailed Answer:
Hey, Thanks for the question, and sorry for the delayed response. Was on Vacation.

So. I had to read up about Crystallin before I could answer your query effectively.

I'm going to sort of divide this answer into 2 parts... Short Answer and Slightly Longer Answer...

Short Answer: Yes!, Crystallin is a protein, and all proteins are organic molecules yes, but more importantly proteins are inherently unstable... due to the amount of energy it takes to create a protein.. it will degrade when left to the environment.

Long Answer: Crytallin is a very impressive family of proteins which were originally discovered to help with allowing the lens of your eye to bend light effectively and hence, help with vision. Its been seen in other parts of the body and some diseases. Oxandrolone can increase the deposition of crystallin as the eye matures... but the effect has an upper limit... no matter how much stimulation.. other signals from the eye and body will signal to the DNA to stop making the stuff. It's an example ofa basic feedback mechanism which is seen throughout the design of the human body.
The feedback loop prevents too much cryatllin from being generated.

All in all. You don't have to worry. As long as your vision is good.. your Crystallin levels are fine.

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Brief Answer:
Steroids have long term effects on larger processes, not cells and proteins

Detailed Answer:
I had to think about this awhile before I replied. Sorry it took so long.

So the idea is this. You want to know what the long term effects on an anabolic steroid are on the body.. years and years out.

To understand this, we first have to know what steroids do and how they create their effects.

Steroids are basically chemical signals. The artificial steroids that we use in medicine are chemically very similar to the steroids made by our Adrenal Glands.

These steroids have a few effects. They basically put the body into build up mode. They activate the genetic programming in each of our cells which controls growth and development. This genetic programming may vary slightly from tissue to tissue.. but the trigger for growth.. namely the steroid is the same.

At this point.. I would like to pause and mention that I am VASTLY simplifying reality here. This forum is not a good one for in depth discussions on human energy management and human metabolism. Anyways, getting back to the point..

So after taking steroids... we have 2 basic effects...
1) A Medium term effect on the overall density and cellular proliferation of the tissue
2) A Longer, tougher to measure, effect on the tissues actual metabolic activity.

Lets discuss these effects in some detail.

1) Medium Term Effects: This is where we talk about the effects of steroids like the effects you have learned about involving Crystallin. Another example is the effect of steroids on muscle tissue. The muscles tend to grow and proliferate.

The thing you have to remember about these medium term effects is that they fade away.. the genetic effect is temporary... may last years.. but ultimately is temporary. The muscles will fade, the crystallin will too. There are very few tissues in the human body that even last for more than a few years.

2) The Longer Term Metabolic effects are tough but important to keep in mind. Steroid use can lead to a series of changes that may end up being permanent. Let me give you an example. Lets say a body builder uses steroids to increase muscle bulk.. well steroids also signal to the sex organs that their metabolic activity should decrease.. or even stop. It's an evolutionary mechanism. Your body wants to divert all the energy it can while you are in your growing years to GROWTH... and then when growth ends or starts tapering off... the sex organs activate...

Steroids and other hormones act as those on off switches.

So yes. steroids can have long term effects... mostly on reproductive physiology... but the effects are very minor... and can be reversed with treatment from an endocrinologist.

Hope that helped.
Let me know what you are thinking.

Vin

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