Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the content of fatty acids (FA) in wild freshwater fish in the Poyang Lake. The muscles of fish were collected to extract lipids using methanol and chloroform. Lipids were methylated with the base-catalyzed transesterification method and analyzed by GC. The results demonstrated that the content of PUFA varied with the kinds of fishes from 18.65% to 3.07%. The DHA content was 10.72% in yellow cartfish, the EPA content was 4.61% in scad. The ratio of n-3 PUFA/n-6 PUFA was significantly different, from 1:0.7 to 1:2.5. The contents of C22:4 n-6 and C22:5 n-3(DPA)had a significant difference in fish of different subject. The content of CLA, C20:4 n-6, C22:2 n-6, C22:4 n-6, C22:5 n-3, C22:6 n-3(DPA) and C22:6 n-3(DHA) had a significant difference in fish of different life habitual. The results indicated also that the PUFA of fish muscles had relations with the life habit of fish such as the height of water and feeding habit in the Poyang Lake.

Key words: Poyang Lake, freshwater fish, fatty acids