An alternative hypothesis to explain the ventilator
failure and medullary collapse in some fish is that
eugenol has neurotoxic and hepatotoxic properties in
fish similar to those described in mammals (Sladky
et al. 2001). Cortisol, a principal corticosteroid that
plays a role in intermediary metabolism, ion regulation
and osmoregulation, and immune function, has
been shown to cause swelling of erythrocytes (red
blood cells) (Sharp et al. 2004; Iwama et al. 1989;
Mommsen et al. 1999).