Dopamine (DA) is one of the putative neurotransmitters of the lateral efferent olivocochlear fibers. The cochlear DA content after noise exposure was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection. Animals were exposed for 1 h to white noise at 70, 90 or 110 dB SPL or were kept in conditions of silence. Half of the animals were pretreated with piribedil, a D2 agonist, and the other half served as controls. In control (untreated) animals, noise stimulation resulted in a progressive decrease of cochlear DA concentration. This decrease was scarcely detected when animals were pretreated with piribedil. Present findings indicate that piribedil modifies cochlear DA turnover under noise stimulation.