Answer :
Final answer:
The blockade of dopamine in the tuberoinfundibular pathway leads to increased prolactin levels, as this path regulates prolactin secretion from the anterior pituitary. c) Tuberoinfundibular pathway.
Explanation:
Blockade of dopamine in the tuberoinfundibular pathway can lead to increased prolactin levels. This pathway is responsible for the regulation of prolactin secretion from the anterior pituitary gland. Antipsychotic drugs, which act as dopamine receptor antagonists, can block dopamine receptors and prevent dopamine from inhibiting prolactin release, thereby increasing blood levels of prolactin. Three other dopamine pathways in the brain include the nigrostriatal, mesolimbic, and mesocortical pathways, each associated with different functions. The nigrostriatal pathway is mainly involved in movement control and is affected in Parkinson’s disease. The mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways are linked to reward, motivation, and the symptoms of schizophrenia, respectively. However, it’s the tuberoinfundibular pathway that directly influences prolactin levels.
