Dyslipidemia is a metabolic disorder that often develops in association with obesity. Most research regarding human metabolic disorders, including dyslipidemia, has been conducted using rodents. However, channel catfish selected for increased growth often develop obese‐like phenotype with increased fat accumulation in the abdomen, suggesting channel catfish can be useful in investigating the mechanism(s) associated with development of obesity in humans. Objectives of this experiment were to identify the genes encoding mRNA for two low density lipoprotein receptors (LDLrA and LDLrB) and examine their tissue distributions in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctarus). In addition, mRNA encoding very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLr) was identified and characterized. Channel catfish LDLrA, LDLrB, and VLDLr mRNA sequences were identified by screening the channel catfish genome database and their expression was examined in the brain, spleen, trunk kidney, liver, Bockmann body, and muscle. The PCR amplicon for respective mRNA was highly similar (>70%) with other species of fish. The sequences of LDLrA and LDLrB mRNA also shared a high degree of similarities (>65%) with rodents and humans. Expression of LDLrA and VLDLr mRNA sequences were detected at various levels in all tissues examined. LDLrB mRNA sequences were also detected at various levels in all tissues except in the brain. Currently, the changes in expression of the three mRNA expressions in relation to changes in food intake and development of obese‐like phenotype are being investigated.Support or Funding InformationThis research is supported by the Kansas Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (P20GM103418).