Scanning electron microscopic investigation of the spermatophore and spermatozoa of the shrimp Farfantepenaeus subtilis (Decapoda: Penaeidae)

Abstract

Scanning electron microscopy was used to describe the structure of the spermatozoon and spermatophore of Farfantepenaeus subtilis. The spermatophore showed characteristics similar to those of members of the subgenus Farfantepenaeus. This included an extensive glandular epithelium and a lack of a wing. The sperm mass, which was distributed at the periphery of the spermatophore, was surrounded by a large amount of acellular material. The spermatozoon has a spherical main body and a well-defined acrosomal region with a single spike, which was bent in some cells. The immotile sperm cells have an average length of 7.1 ± 0.6 μm. Information on sperm location within the spermatophore will assist in the efficient extraction of the sperm mass during dissection.

Keywords:

• glandular epithelium
• matrix
• sperm mass
• acrosome
• spike

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Pernambuco State Council of Science and Technology (FACEPE), and the Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). S. Peixoto is a research fellow of SNPq. Researchers would like to thank all staff at the Centre for Strategic Technologies of the North East (CETENE) for their support in the capture of SEM images.