What hypothalamic pathways
influence endocrine function?
The hypothalamus controls the
endocrine system by secreting
oxytocin and vasopressin into
the general circulation from
nerve terminals ending in the
posterior pituitary (5 in figure).
The hypothalamus also
secretes regulatory hormones
into local portal circulation that
drains into the anterior pituitary
(3 and 4).
Finally, some hypothalamic
neurons influence peptidergic
neurons, synapsing at those
neurons cell bodies or axon
terminals (1 and 2).