Electrical stimulation of spermatophore expulsion in marine shrimp, Penaeus spp.

Electrical stimulation (4-6 V AC) applied near the male gonopares at the base of the fifth pereopods caused expulsion of the spermatophore in Penaeus setiferus, P. stylirostris, and P. vannamei. For healthy animals, some degree of spermatophore expulsion occurred in 80% of the attempts. Complete explusion of one or both spermatophores occurred in only 47% (29-65%, depending on species). Shrimp with melanized terminal ampullae generally did not expel a spermatophore following electrical stimulation. The technique needs further refinement for routine use with penaeids.