CD9 protein appears on growing mouse oocytes at the time when they develop the ability to fuse with spermatozoa.

CD9 is a member of the tetraspanin superfamily proteins and is the only protein on the mouse oocyte which is known to be indispensable in sperm-egg fusion. Here, using indirect immunofluorescence we show that CD9 appears on the oolemma during the early stages of the growth of the oocyte, when it measures 13-22 microm in diameter. When the oocyte reaches a diameter of 17-22 microm, the density of CD9 in its oolemma is similar to the density of this protein in the cell membrane of the fully grown secondary oocyte. The appearance of CD9 in growing oocytes correlates with the previously reported time of the acquisition of fusibility between the spermatozoon and the egg. Accordingly we propose that during oogenesis the development of the ability of the oolemma to fuse with sperm may be regulated by synthesis of CD9 by the oocyte.