Rapid HPLC analysis of retinoids and dehydroretinoids stored in fish liver: comparison of two lake sturgeon populations

All major retinoids (vitamin A) stored in the liver of lake sturgeon from two Québec lakes were analysed by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Four HPLC peaks represented approximately 90% of all liver retinoids. Their relative proportion was remarkably consistent in the two sturgeon populations with dehydroretinyl palmitate/oleate accounting for the largest proportion (50–60%). Most retinoids demonstrated significant positive correlations with age, but only in the Lake Berthelot sturgeon. The concentrations of all major retinoids were significantly (P<0·0001) lower, as much as 40 times lower, in the Lake Saint‐Louis population. Possible explanations for the extremely low liver stores in the Lake Saint‐Louis sturgeon are discussed.