Isolated GDF-9 regulatory sequences are disclosed, as well as methods of using the sequences to modulate tissue-specific expression of genes. The GDF-9 regulatory sequences include, for example, enhancer and promoter elements that naturally drive transcription of GDF-9 in specific tissues. The GDF-9 regulatory sequences can be derived from the untranscribed upstream (e.g., first 10 kilobases) and downstream regions, and transcribed, untranslated regions of a GDF-9 gene.