Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to the imaging of biological samples are provided. More particularly, they relate to the detection of light emanating from fluorescent species present in a sample in order to study the structure and dynamics of such a sample. Such a method of analysis comprises irradiating the sample with a pulse of excitation energy causing fluorescent species in the sample to fluoresce; detecting light emanating from the sample during a predetermined period of time after the pulse; generating and storing data recording at least the wavelength of the detected light against time; and analysing the data with reference to the respective lifetimes of the fluorescent species to detect the presence of the respective emissions from three or more different fluorescent species which emit light simultaneously during at least part of said predetermined period, which are indistinguishable from each other on the basis of their wavelength or lifetime alone.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to the imaging of biological samples are provided. More particularly, they relate to the detection of light emanating from fluorescent species present in a sample in order to study the structure and dynamics of such a sample. Such a method of analysis comprises irradiating the sample with a pulse of excitation energy causing fluorescent species in the sample to fluoresce; detecting light emanating from the sample during a predetermined period of time after the pulse; generating and storing data recording at least the wavelength of the detected light against time; and analysing the data with reference to the respective lifetimes of the fluorescent species to detect the presence of the respective emissions from three or more different fluorescent species which emit light simultaneously during at least part of said predetermined period, which are indistinguishable from each other on the basis of their wavelength or lifetime alone.

Abstract: A group of oligonucleotides for the identification of sequences in a sample comprising human histamine H2 receptor DNA, cDNA or RNA originating from a tissue sample or body fluid is employed in the diagnosis and/or treatment of human neurological and psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia, and diseases of other systems or organs of the human body. The oligonucleotides, suitable for use as primers for the amplification of DNA corresponding to a region of a human histamine H2 receptor, have nucleotide sequences selected from: 5′ACACCAGCCTGGATGTGA 3′(as listed in SEQ ID NO:12), 5′TCACATCCAGGCTGGTCT 3′ (as listed in SEQ ID NO:13), 5′ CAATCATACCACCTCTAA 3′ (as listed in SEQ ID NO:14), 5′ ACACAAACGCGGTGAAGT 3′(as listed in SEQ ID NO:15). Also described is a diagnostic kit comprising one or more of the above mentioned oligonucleotides.