Artificial insemination using preserved spermatophores in the palaemonid shrimp Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

Spermatophores were removed from the sternum of female Macrobrachium rosenbergii immediately after mating ant preserved in Ringer solution at 2°C or room temperature. After certain periods of preservation, the spermatophores, which had lost their adherence, were attached to the sternum of other females 10-15 hours after prespawning molt, using quiek set adhesive α-cyanoacrylate as a glue. Spermatophores preserved for up to at least 17 hours at room temperatures and up to four days at 2°C resulted in successful fertilization and hatching. In spermato-phores preserved for longer periods at 2°C the protective and adhesive matrices of the spermato-phore degenerated greatly and were subject to damage by the propagation of bacilli, resulting in the failure of fertilization unless the preserving medium was renewed every two days.