Ethanol may stimulate or inhibit (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, depending upon Na+ and K+ concentrations.

The influence of varying the ratios of [Na+]/[K+] on the effects of alcohol (500 mg/dl) on brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, using a commercial porcine enzyme preparation, showed that, generally, activity was stimulated by ethanol when [Na+] less than [K+], but inhibited when [Na+] greater than [K+] (with sum kept constant at 150 mM). In addition, when [Na+]/[K+] was 15/90 mM, representative of normal intracellular levels, ethanol (500 mg/dl) stimulated the porcine enzyme, but inhibited it when [Na+]/[K+] was 144/6 mM, representative of normal extracellular levels. Similarly, in freshly prepared enzyme from highly purified rat brain synaptic membranes, ethanol (100, 300, and 450 mg/dl) stimulated when [Na+]/[K+] was 15/88 mM (representing intracellular levels), but inhibited when [Na+]/[K+] was 142/4 mM (extracellular levels).