Electrical stimulation of spermatophore expulsion in marine shrimp, Penaeus spp

Electrical stimulation (4–6 V AC) applied near the male gonopores 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 expulsion 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.