Ovariectomy-mediated impairment of spatial working memory, but not reference memory, is attenuated by the knockout of the dopamine D(3) receptor in female mice.

•OVX mice show regular spatial reference memory during Morris water maze task.•D3KO sham-operated mice perform regularly during Morris water maze tasks.•OVX mice exhibit spatial working memory deficits in Morris water maze.•Working memory deficits by OVX are attenuated in D3KO mice.