Thetuberoinfundibular pathway refers to a population of dopamine neurons that project from thearcuate nucleus (a.k.a. the "infundibular nucleus") in thetuberal region of the hypothalamus to themedian eminence.[1] It is one of the four majordopamine pathways in the brain. Dopamine released at this site inhibits the secretion ofprolactin fromanterior pituitary gland lactotrophs by binding todopamine receptor D2.
Someantipsychotic drugs block dopamine in the tuberoinfundibular pathway, which can cause an increase in the amount of prolactin in the blood (hyperprolactinemia).
Other majordopamine pathways include:
Relationship of the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. The anterior pituitary, or adenohypophysis, receives rich blood flow from the capillaries of the portal hypophyseal system. This system delivers factors released by hypothalamic neurons into portal capillaries at the median eminence. The figure shows one such projection, from the tuberal (arcuate) nuclei via the tuberoinfundibular tract to the median eminence.