Abstract:In order to identify the most stable reference gene for the real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis in Dabry's sturgeon (), seven commonly used reference genes, including beta actin (), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (18S rRNA), succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit A () were selected as candidates. Their expression stability was evaluated in different adult tissues, and in the tissue of embryos, testes, and ovaries during different developmental stages. We used geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder software to conduct the analyses. Results verified that optimal amplification efficiency was obtained from the primers of these candidate genes. In adult tissues, the stability of these reference genes was as follows:18S rRNA > ; during different developmental stages of embryos, the stability of these reference genes was:18S rRNA > ; during different developmental stages of testes, the stability of these reference genes was:18S rRNA > ; during different developmental stages of ovaries, the stability of these reference genes was: > . Overall, the most stable reference gene in adult tissue, embryos, and testes was to be most stable. This study provides a useful basis for future work examining gene expression in Dabry's sturgeon.