【Objective】 To investigate the role of dopamine D3 receptor deficiency in depression-like behavior in perimenopausal depression and to explore the role of dopamine D3 receptor in the pathogenesis of perimenopausal depression. 【Methods】 Based on the perimenopausal depression animal model， RT-PCR was used to study the changes of D3 receptor mRNA in the nucleus accumbens （NAc） in mice. Furthermore， dopamine D3 receptor knockout （D3RKO） mice and wild type （WT） mice of the same genetic background were used， respectively. Forced swim test （FST） and tail suspension test （TST） were used to assess depressive-like behavior in mice. 【Results】 D3 receptor mRNA in the NAc decreased significantly in perimenopause （P<0.05）. Chronic immobilization stress （CIS） induced the decrease of D3 receptor mRNA in young mice （P<0.05）. CIS induced a further decrease of D3 receptor mRNA in perimenopausal mice （P<0.05）. The immobility in the FST was significantly prolonged in perimenopausal D3RKO mice， compared with perimenopausal WT mice （P<0.05）. The immobility in both FST and TST was significantly prolonged in perimenopausal D3RKO mice， compared with young D3RKO mice （P<0.05）. No significant difference was found between the groups of the WT mice （P>0.05）. 【Conclusion】 Dopamine D3 receptor in the NAc is significantly decreased during perimenopause. Obvious decrease or deficiency of dopamine D3 receptors may be involved in the regulation of perimenopausal depression.