Effect of cumulative doses (7, 14 and 28 mg kg(-1) body weight) of testosterone (T) and estradiol-17 beta (E2) on total phospholipids (TP), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in tissues were investigated during the gonadal recrudescence, in prespawning phase of the annual reproductive cycle in intact and ovariectomized freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis. After ovariectomy, the hepatic levels of TP and PE were elevated and remained unaffected for PC, PS and PE when compared with control. In general, T and E2 were stimulatory fora specific class ofphospholipid in tissues of intact and ovariectomized catfish. These effects were higher at 14 and 28 mg kg(-1) body weight in ovariectomized catfish whereas 7 mg kg(-1) body weight of T and E2 have pronounced effect in intact ovaries. In conclusion, the various phospholipid biosynthesis were under T and E2 dependent. Among the phospholipid, the PC was the main constituent and was sex steroid dependent biosynthesis during prespawning phase.