The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus responds to stressors in part by synthesizing and secreting peptide messengers called releasing factors that are released into the pituitary portal system of the ____.

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The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus secretes releasing factors into the pituitary portal system, which carries them to the anterior pituitary. There, they stimulate the release of hormones such as ACTH and TSH, which regulate the stress response and metabolism, respectively. The posterior pituitary does not receive releasing factors from the hypothalamus; instead, it stores and releases hormones such as oxytocin and vasopressin that are synthesized in the hypothalamus. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis involves the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands, which is stimulated by ACTH from the anterior pituitary.

The Paraventricular Nucleus of the Hypothalamus Responds to Stressors in Part