Scope of the journal - All aspects of histochemistry and microtechnique, from all areas of the biological sciences. Papers concerning topics as diverse as in situ hybridization, cytochemical probes, autoradiography, light and electron microscopy, tissue culture, image analysis, cytogenetics, automation or computerization of investigative procedures are appropriate.

Kinds of articles - Papers reporting innovative technical methods and/or their applications are considered for publication regardless of length. Letters to the Editor and review articles concerning topics of special and current interest are welcomed.

Preparation of manuscripts - Originals and two copies of the manuscript and figures are required. Manuscript should be double spaced, including footnotes, references, legends etc; on one side only of the page. Allow top, bottom and side margins of at least 1 inch. Page 1 of manuscript: short title, name and address of corresponding author. Page 2: full title of article, names and addresses of authors, with institutional affiliations in English. Page 3: an abstract of 100-400 words, suitable for use directly by abstracting services; plus 3-10 key words. Page 4 and subsequently: text of article; which should if possible be divided into introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion and references, each section beginning on a new page.

For abbreviations and nomenclature consult CBE Style Manual, 5th ed., 1983, Council of Biology Editors. For biological stains use the nomenclature in Conn's Biological Stains, 9th Ed., 1977, R.D.Lillie, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore. All stains to be identified by Color Index number or by batch and certification number.

Figures and tables - Legends should not be attached to or part of illustrative material. Each figure to be numbered in lower left corner. Do not mount figures; photocopies not acceptable. No page charges are assessed. Each author may have up to three (3) color plates at no charge. Cost of additional color plates must be borne by the author(s).

References - Give text citations by authors name and date, without a coma. Provide an unnumbered alphabetical listing at the end of the paper entitled 'References'. For layout of references in this listing see a copy of Biotechnic and Histochemistry.

Page and editorial charges - No page charges for text or black and white illustrations are assessed. A charge of $50 per hour may be assessed for extensive editorial revision of accepted manuscripts that occasionally may be required to assure the quality of presentation expected for the journal. In both cases, authors lacking resources to pay may refuse them without jeopardizing publication.

Preparation of manuscript

An original and two copies of the manuscript and all figures must be submitted.

The manuscript must be accompanied by a disk if possible. The format must be PC/Windows compatible and the text must be prepared using Microsoft Word or recent versions of Corel Word Perfect. Assistance can be provided to authors who have difficulty providing a disk. The disk version must match the printout exactly; in cases where differences are found, the disk version will be used.

Manuscripts must be typed double spaced (including references, legends, etc.), on one side only of 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper. Allow top, bottom, and side margins of at least 1 inch.

Organize the manuscript as follows:

On page 1 give the short title (running head); below this give the name and address of the person to whom proofs and other correspondence are to be sent.

On page 2 give the full title of the article and the names and addresses, including institutional affiliations, of the author or authors as they are to appear in the journal. Institutional affiliations should always be given in English.

On page 3 provide an abstract of 100--400 words. The abstract is in lieu of a summary and is required for every paper. It should be written in an informative style permitting its use, without revision, by abstracting services. Give essential details of technics or research findings. Avoid generalizations and nonessential information.

List three to ten key words, arranged alphabetically, to assist with indexing.

Use page 4 and succeeding pages for the text of the article.

Papers should be divided into sections: Introduction (untitled), Materials and methods, Results, Discussion, and References. Each section should begin on a new page.

Abbreviations and nomenclature

For abbreviations and nomenclature authors should consult the latest edition of the CSE Style Manual, available from the Council of Science Editors, 60 Revue Drive Suite 500 Northbrook, IL 60062. Or on the web.

Biological stains

For biological stains, use the nomenclature and spellings found in Biological Stains. A Handbook of Dyes, Stains and Fluorochromes for Use in Biology and Medicine, 10th ed., by RW Horobin and JA Kiernan, BIOS Scientific Publishers, Oxford, UK.
Whenever applicable, stains should be identified also by Colour Index number and/or by batch or certification numbers.

Figures and tables

Figure legends may be combined on pages separate from the body of the text as may be convenient, i.e., a separate page for each legend is not required. Legends should not be attached to or incorporated into photomicrographs or other illustrative material. Figure legends must be self-explanatory and intelligible. Each figure must be numbered; numbers should be applied to the lower left corner of each photograph and should contrast with the background.

For photomicrographs, magnifications must be given in the legend or scale markers shown on the micrograph. Figures should be submitted in digital format on a disk. Each figure should be numbered in the lower left corner of the image.

Figures and tables are printed 1 column width (8 cm or 3 1/8 inches), 2 column width (16.5 cm or 6 1/2 inches), or full page size (I 6.5 x 22.5 cm or 6 1/2 x 8 3/4 inches). To avoid the vagaries of cropping and sizing, it is best to submit figures and illustrations that will present well within to the parameters given above.

Black and white figures are reproduced at no cost to authors.

Color figures are also welcome; they must be sized and prepared as described above. Up to three pages of color figures are reproduced at no cost to authors. All pages of color beyond the initial three will be printed at the author's expense. A cost estimate will be sent to the corresponding author for approval prior to typesetting.

A separate page for each table usually is advantageous for both author and typesetter. Do not use vertical rules in tables. Titles should be self-explanatory.

If authors reproduce previously published material in their article, they are responsible for obtaining written permission from the original authors and publisher prior to publication. A copy of all relevant correspondence should be provided with the manuscript.

References

Provide an unnumbered alphabetical listing at the end of the paper entitled "References." These must include the last names and initials of all authors, the complete title of the article, the abbreviated journal title, volume and inclusive page numbers. For example:

Oren N, Letenski MS (1991) Motor nerve terminal staining combined with catecholamine histofluoreseence or immunocytochemistry. Biotech. & Histochem. 66: 1- 25.

Book references should include the date, edition, publisher, the publisher's city, and pages cited. Book titles should be italicized. For example:

Bancroft JD, Stevens A (1996)Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques. Churchill Livingstone, New York. pp. 560-562.

Text citations are given by author name and date without a comma.For example: (Oren and Letinsky 1991)

Conforming to the specifications given here greatly facilitates both editing and typesetting. Manuscripts that fail to conform may be returned to the authors for retyping.