II. Cognitive performance of middle-aged female rats is influenced by capacity to metabolize progesterone in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus

► We compared middle-aged breeder rats that maintained reproductive capacity or not. ► Breeding history correlated with prefrontal cortex and hippocampus allopregnanolone. ► Reproductively-maintained breeders outperformed declining breeders on spatial tasks. ► Reproductively-declining breeders outperformed maintaining breeders on noxious tasks. ► Prefrontal cortex and hippocampus progestogens correlated with cognitive performance.