Determination of biogenic amines in oysters by capillary electrophoresis coupled with electrochemiluminescence.

Changes in the concentrations of putrescine, histamine, tyramine, phenylethylamine and spermidine were studied by the method of capillary electrophoresis coupled with electrochemiluminescence (CE-ECL) during the storage of oysters at two different temperatures (0°C and 4°C). The results showed that, with an increase in the storage time, spermidine and putrescine became dominant. When the oysters were stored at 0°C, the concentration of spermidine increased from 45.6mg/kg to 68.5mg/kg, and that of putrescine increased from 18.6mg/kg to 28.3mg/kg. When the storage temperature was controlled at 4°C, the concentration of spermidine increased from 46.7mg/kg to 119.7mg/kg and that of putrescine increased from 19.4mg/kg to 136.8mg/kg, respectively. In contrast, the histamine, tyramine and phenylethylamine levels increased slightly throughout the storage period for all of the experimental conditions.