Hypothalamic Regulation of the Pituitary

The proximity of the hypothalamus and pituitary allows for a short feedback loop to be present. This feedback loop is designed to minimize misdirected hypothalamic signals to the pituitary. The hypothalamus will secrete inhibitory and stimulating factors that regulate pituitary hormone release. These factors are, in fact, also hormones. A hormone is defined as any substance that is made by the body and travels through the blood to produce a specific effect on a distant target tissue. Some of the well-characterized releasing or inhibitory factors are included in the table below.