The effects of environmental stress on steroid receptor levels and steroid-induced morphogenesis in Achlya ambisexualis

Riehl, R. M.

doi:10.1016/0014-4827(88)90284-4

Incubation of Achlya ambisexualis at elevated temperature (heat shock) or in the presence of sodium arsenite resulted in an inhibition of steroid hormone-induced responsiveness. The effect of heat shock was time- and temperature-dependent and more severe than the effect of sodium arsenite. Incubation at 37.degree. C for 30 min completely abolished the steroid-induced response and full recovery was not observed until 6 h after a return to the normal growth temperature of 22.degree. C. Heat shock and arsenite treatment had no effect on the cellular uptake of the steroid hormone, but heat shock resulted in a time- and temperature-dependent loss in the cellular level of steroid receptors. In contrast, arsenite treatment had little effect on the concentration of steroid receptors. However, both heat shock and arsenite treatment produced a long-term (4 h) and transient (1 h) inhibition of total protein synthesis, respectively. The recovery of steroid-induced responsiveness following heat shock was observed after both protein synthesis and steroid hormone receptor levels had returned to normal values.