Guidelines for Authors

AIMS AND SCOPE

The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, the official Journal of the Histochemical Society, publishes papers that report the development of new histochemical and cytochemical methods, significant modifications of existing techniques, or original research in which histochemical and cytochemical methods make a significant contribution. Histochemistry and cytochemistry include (but are not limited to) biochemical, biophysical, and molecular analyses of the functional or structural components of tissues or cells in which the data have been obtained primarily by microscopy. Manuscripts are invited from all fields of biology, pathology, cellular and molecular biology. Highest priority is given to papers that use state-of-the-art histochemical and cytochemical methods to obtain significant new biochemical information about cell function and gene expression in normal, genetically altered, and pathological states. Articles that describe new histochemical and cytochemical methods are of interest, particularly when they are shown to provide crucial new data of current interest to the fields of cell and developmental biology or pathology. Manuscripts receive prompt attention under the supervision of the Journal's Editors, who are distinguished scientists with broad expertise in diverse areas of histochemistry and cytochemistry.

EDITORIAL OFFICE

Manuscripts should be sent to:

Dr. Denis G. Baskin, Editor

The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry

Department of Biological Structure, Box 357420

University of Washington School of Medicine

Seattle, WA 98195–9420

The Editorial Office may also be reached by:

Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

For information about the Journal and submission of manuscripts, see our Web page: http://www.pathology.washington.edu/jhc/

COPYRIGHT

Manuscripts submitted to the Journal are reviewed with the express understanding that they have not been submitted or published elsewhere (except in abstract form). Manuscripts accepted for publication in the Journal become the property of, and are copyrighted in the name of, the Histochemical Society. They must not be published elsewhere in any language without prior consent of the Journal. Reproduction and fair use of articles published in the Journal are permitted for individual use without infringement of copyright, provided that the use is for nonprofit purposes. Reproduction for other uses, including electronic distribution or Internet, requires consent of the Journal.

TYPES OF ARTICLES PUBLISHED

Authors are invited to submit manuscripts for publication as Articles (full-length research reports), Rapid Communications (important new results or technical developments), Technical Notes (brief description of new methods or significant modifications of existing techniques), Reviews, and Letters to the Editor. For articles submitted as Rapid Communications every effort will be made to make a decision within 3 weeks and publish it within 3 months. Papers submitted for this accelerated process must: (a) conform exactly to the requested style and format; (b) be no longer than 16 double spaced pages from title page through tables; (c) contain no more than one page of figures; and (d) require no revision. Manuscripts rejected as Rapid Communications will be returned without written reviews and are eligible for resubmission as regular Articles.

SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPTS

Submit four sets of the complete manuscript and illustrations, a Letter of Transmittal, and the Assignment of Copyright form signed by each author. The Journal is unable to return copies of submitted manuscripts and figures. If an article is rejected only the original illustrations will be returned.

Letter of Transmittal

This letter, signed by all authors, should include:

1. 1. Title

2. 2. Author(s) name(s) (identify the corresponding author, with complete address, telephone, FAX, and e-mail information)

3. 3. Type of manuscript (Article, Rapid Communication, Technical Note, Review, Letter to the Editor)

4. 4. Brief statement of the significance of the paper

5. 5. Statement that the authors agree to pay the cost of color illustrations (if any)

6. 6. Suggested reviewers’ names, addresses, phone, FAX, and e-mail (if desired)

Assignment of Copyright

This form, printed in each issue of the Journal, must be signed by all authors and submitted with the manuscript. The manuscript will not be reviewed without the signed form.

MANUSCRIPT FORMAT

Specifications

Print all pages with full double spacing, 3.8 cm margins, and an unjustified right margin. Use a standard 12 point typeface (e.g., Times, Helvetica, or Courier) throughout the manuscript. Do not use boldface or italic anywhere in the manuscript. Footnotes are not permitted anywhere in the text. Number each page at the bottom as follows:

Page 1. Running headline: all capitals, no more than 48 characters and spaces.

Page 2. Title page: Complete title; first name, middle initial, last name of each author; where work was done (use authors’ initials in parentheses if necessary); mailing address, phone, FAX, and e-mail of the author designated for correspondence and reprint requests (if different from the first author).

Page 3. Abstract: not more than 200 words, followed by 3 to 10 key words.

Beginning on page 4: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgments, Literature Cited, Tables, Figure Legends. Begin each section on a new page.

Materials and Methods

Give manufacturer's name and location (city, state or country) in parentheses for reagents and instruments. Indicate sources for all antibodies and nucleotide sequences. New antibodies must be characterized by biochemical methods such as Western blots. Controls for all histochemical methods must be reported. For studies that employed animals, indicate whether institutional or National Research Council guidelines were followed. If human subjects were used, indicate whether the procedures followed were in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 or if they were approved by an institutional committee on human experimentation. Quantitative results must be presented as graphs or tables and supported by appropriate experimental design and statistical tests. Group data should be reported as means and standard errors, with statistical p values and sample sizes.

Literature Cited

Reference only work published or in press (give name of journal). Cite unpublished work as such in the text. Personal communications should be acknowledged in the text and be accompanied by written permission. Abbreviations should conform to Index Medicus. In the text, cite references by name and year: Lillie (1966); (Graham and Karnovsky, 1966; Spicer et al. 1965). In Literature Cited, list references alphabetically by authors, including all coauthors, and chronologically for the same author (beginning with most recent date of publication). Where the same author has more than one publication in a year, use lower case letters (i.e. 1989a, 1989b, etc.). Do not use periods after authors’ initials, abbreviated journal titles, or end. Use inclusive page numbers. Examples:

Coons AH (1978) Fluorescent antibody methods. In Danielli JF, ed. General Cytochemical Methods. New York, Academic Press, 399–422

Graham RC, Karnovsky MJ (1966) The early stages of absorption of injected horseradish peroxidase in the proximal tubules of the mouse kidney. Ultrastructural cytochemistry by a new technique. J Histochem Cytochem 14:291–302

Lillie RD (1966) Histochemical acylation of aldehydes produced by periodic acid. J Histochem Cytochem 14:529–537

Spicer SS, Leppi TJ, Stoward PJ (1965) Suggestions for a histochemical terminology for carbohydrate-rich tissue components. J Histochem Cytochem 13:599–603

Sternberger LA (1979) Immunocytochemistry, 2nd ed. New York, Wiley

Tables

Number consecutively (Arabic numerals). Include a brief title above the table. Print each table double spaced, without vertical or horizontal lines, and on a separate sheet. Do not submit photographs of tables. Use footnotes (superscripted lower-case letters) to explain abbreviations, statistics, etc.

Figure Legends

Number figures in a single consecutive series with Arabic numerals. Do not duplicate material in text or describe methods. Indicate size of scale bar.

Illustrations

Four complete sets, including an “original” for publication, must be submitted with the manuscript. Trim and mount figures on white cardboard no larger than 21.6 × 27.9 cm (8.5 × 11 in.). Arrange composite photographs so that there is a uniform 2–5 mm space between adjacent figures in a plate. Size illustrations precisely at one-column width (8.3 cm), one and one-half column width (11.8 cm), or two-column width (17.1 cm). Label the back of each figure or composite plate in soft lead pencil, indicating TOP, figure number, and first author's name. Mark the back of the best set “use for reproduction.”

Photographs. Apply figure numbers to lower left corner of each photograph. Figure labeling should be 5–7 mm high and 1–2 mm in line thickness. Photomicrographs and electron micrographs should have a scale bar. Label composite figures with upper case lettering (e.g., A, B).

Color photographs. Color prints must be mounted on firm but flexible smooth-surfaced drawing paper. Do not mount color prints on stiff cardboard. Color figures cost $850 to $1200 per page, which must be paid before an article is scheduled for publication.

Graphics. Line drawings or graphs should be no larger than 12.7 × 17.8 cm. They will be reduced to one-column width (8.3 cm). Computer graphics are acceptable.

Digital images. Authors intending to submit image files for printing should contact the Editorial Office for instructions.

Abbreviations and style

Customary abbreviations in wide use need not be defined in text (e.g., DNA, ATP). Define other abbreviations the first time that they are used. Refer to the Journal of Biological Chemistry for recommended abbreviations for biological compounds, Chemical Abstracts for names of chemical compounds, Biological Stains (RD Lillie, HJ Conn, 1977, 9th ed Williams & Wilkins) for nomenclature, and the CBE Style Manual (1994, 6th ed, Chicago, Council of Biology Editors) for scientific abbreviations. Use SI units only.

MANUSCRIPTS REQUIRING REVISION

Manuscripts are reviewed under the supervision of the Editors of the Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. Manuscripts that are judged unsuitable for publication are returned with reviewers’ comments. Revised manuscripts that are not returned to the Journal within 60 days are considered new submissions and are subject to review again.

MANUSCRIPT PROCESSING FEE

A fee of $150 is assessed for manuscripts that are accepted for publication (the Journal does not assess page charges) to partially offset publishing expenses. This fee is payable along with reprint charges. Free reprints are not provided.