Which dopaminergic pathway is a short tract from the hypothalamic area to the pituitary gland that suppresses prolactin and inhibits galactorrhea?

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Dopamine released from a hypothalamic pathway tonically inhibits prolactin secretion by the lactotroph cells of the anterior pituitary. The tuberoinfundibular tract is the short hypothalamic-to-pituitary projection responsible for this control. Dopamine travels to the pituitary via the hypophyseal portal system and binds D2 receptors on lactotrophs, suppressing prolactin release and preventing galactorrhea. Clinically, blocking this dopaminergic signaling (as with certain antipsychotics) removes the brake on prolactin, leading to elevated prolactin and possible galactorrhea. The other options do not fit because they are not the hypothalamic-pituitary dopaminergic pathway involved in prolactin regulation—the mesolimbic tract targets limbic structures and is related to reward, while norepinephrine and serotonin are different neurotransmitter systems.