Skip to main content

Tuberoinfundibular Pathway

Meaning

The tuberoinfundibular pathway is a critical neuroendocrine tract consisting of dopaminergic neurons that originate in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and project to the median eminence, a structure near the pituitary stalk. This pathway’s primary function is the tonic release of dopamine into the portal circulation, which acts as the prolactin-inhibiting hormone, thereby suppressing the secretion of prolactin from the anterior pituitary gland. It is a fundamental component of the neuroendocrine regulation of lactation and reproductive function.