Is the direct effect of naloxone on liver cell metabolism an artifact?

Proprietary naloxone hydrochloride (Narcan) acts on isolated hepatocytes from 24-h starved rats to increase 14CO2 production from [1-14C]oleate and to reverse in part the inhibitory effect of ethanol on the oxidation of [1-14C]oleate to 14CO2. The effects are attributable not to naloxone itself, but to the methyl p-hydroxybenzoate present in Narcan as a preservative. The question is posed as to whether methyl p-hydroxybenzoate and p-hydroxybenzoate contribute to the reported antagonism by proprietary naloxone of acute ethanol intoxication in vivo.