Association of melatonin secretion with seasonal luminosity in human subjects.

Backgroud During 1980-1983 I was a scientist and General Secretary in the Nordic Council of Arctic Medical Research (NCAMR). This organization belonged to the Nordic Council of Ministers, and its office was situated at the University of Oulu, Finland. One of the purposes of NCARM was to promote scientific research related to adaptation of circumpolar people to their environment. My research interest was partly directed to mechanisms by which environmental stimuli are translated to hormonal responses and, therefore focused on brain, hypothalamic and pituitary hormones. At NCAMR I decided to initiate studies on the effects of luminosity on bodily functions. An important subject for such studies is the pineal hormone melatonin that is rigidly controlled by the amount of light reaching the eyes.