Valkee inventor of the planet's first intense light headphone set, and scientists from the School of Oulu, present new discoveries on human brain’s photosensitivity at the Scandinavian Physiology Society Annual Meeting 2011, August 12-14. The study local the OPN3 protein – called the photoreceptor protein – in all of the eighteen evaluated areas of the brain. These brain areas include the core areas of serotonin and melatonin production and storage, which play key roles in mood and depression. Prior to this study, photoreceptive proteins in the human brain hadn't been local outside the visual system. “The human brain is broadly photosensitive. The photoreceptor proteins we found are known to take light impulse and transfer it into neural signals. Channeling light right to these brain areas through ear canal will have a response in the photosensitive cells”, commented Juuso Nissil228, Valkee co-founder and chief systematic officer.

“The study indicates that we have brain cells that react to light when exposed directly. These results are encouraging, particularly for bright light therapy channeled thru ear canal direct to brain tissue”, summarized professor, PhD, Seppo Saarela, heading the biology dept and leading the research at the Varsity of Oulu. Valkee launched its brilliant light headphone set in Aug 2010. Being based on cross-functional science in neurology, biology and psychoanalysis, Valkee is a CE-certified Class II (a) medical gizmo.

About Valkee Valkee bright light headphone set channels brilliant light direct to the brain via ear canals to stop and cure mood changes and circadian rhythm disorders such as jetlag. In trials, nine of 10 patients suffering from dreadful seasonal affective disorder – a. K. A winter blues – experienced total symptoms relief in four weeks with a regular 8-12 minute dose. Valkee is based on systematic studies conducted since 2007 and is a CE-marked Class II (a) medical gadget. Additional info and for online shop valkee About the School of Oulu The University of Oulu, one of the biggest universities in Finland, is an international research and creativity university engaged in multidisciplinary basic research and educational education.

The University cooperates closely with industry and commerce, and has broad connections with loads of world research and academic establishments. The study fields include Humanities, Education, Economics and Business, Science, Medication, Dentistry, Health Sciences, and Technology. For more in-depth information visit oulu About the presented research System : The distribution and localisation of OPN3 protein in human brain and peripheral tissues was assessed by immunohistochemical marking, using polyclonal antibody against OPN3. The OPN3 protein content was measured using western blotting and SDS-PAGE. The examples from 9 corpses were considered during forensic exam. Samples were cut into sections and fluorescent dye labeled antibody was employed to stain before confocal laser scanning microscopy. Primary antibody omitting and immunizing peptide blocking experiments secured the specificity of labeling and immununoreaction.

Results : The OPN3 protein is abounding in the human brain and, as predicted, not in periphery or in negative controls. Neuronal OPN3 was present in granular pattern intracellularly in all of the eighteen inspected sites, including countless cerebral cortical areas, cerebellar cortex and 1 or 2 nuclei in phylogenetically old regions. Immunoreaction occurred often in neuronal soma, although not in nuclei. Conclusion : Previously in mRNA-level assessments, OPN3 encoding has basically led to the abounding presence of OPN3 protein in neurons of human brain, though not in non-neuronal peripheral tissues. OPN3 (aka. Panopsin or enkephalopsin) belongs to the families of extraretinal opsins which have putative role in CNS tissue photosensitivity.

OPN3 mRNA has often been localized in rodent brains and in mRNA expression level in the human brain, but the actual protein and it’s location hasn't been explained. In this research, we planned to outline OPN3 protein localisation, its excess in the human brain and the site of cellular locality. Note : The study paper should be available for download at valkee on Fri., August 12, 2011, after its systematic display at midday CET.