In the cochlea, hormones such as antidiuretic hormone and adrenocorticosteroid hormones are supposed to modulate the endolymph osmolality acting on the labyrinthine water permeability, on the one hand, and on the Na+, K(+)-ATPase, on the other hand. To test the hypothesis that these hormones are involved in the inner ear fluids homeostasis, the electrochemical composition of cochlear fluids was studied in control Long Evans rats, Brattleboro rats that are genetically deprived of antidiuretic hormone, and in adrenalectomized Long Evans rats. The results demonstrated that: i) in Brattleboro rats, the endocochlear K gradient was absent whereas the endocochlear potential and the Cl concentration gradients were maintained; the K gradient was restored by the dDAVP administration; ii) in adrenalectomized rats, no modification of the electrochemical composition of endolymph occurred; the injection of bumetanide (10 mg/kg) induced a larger decrease of the endocochlear potential in adrenalectomized rats than in control animals. These results suggest that the cellular transport systems involved in the endolymph secretion may be altered by different hormones such as antidiuretic hormone and/or adrenocorticosteroid hormones. Nevertheless, the hormonal modulation of the inner ear fluid homeostasis remains to be further documented.