Interaction of alcohol and protein deficiency on rat brain synaptosomal (Na+-K+)-ATPase.

Administration of low amounts of ethanol for a prolonged period increases rat brain synaptosomal (Na+-K+)-ATPase activity, the increase being less in the protein deficient rats. The adaptive mechanism to offset the stress imposed by the continued presence of ethanol seems to be depressed by low plane of nutrition. In vivo and in vitro effects of ethanol on (Na+-K+)ATPase seems to be different.