Preparation of Manuscripts

Manuscripts should be written in the English language
They should be typed, double spaced using 2.5 cm wide margins all round. The text is arranged as follows:

• title page,

The title page bears: (a) title, (b) name(s) of Author(s), (c) institution(s) where work was done, (d) all addresses of Authors, and (e) Authors to whom proofs should be sent with complete address, telephone number, and e-mail address.

 (2) abstract and keywords,
An abstract (maximum 250 words) is typed double-spaced on a separate page. The abstract is structured under the headings (1) aims, (2) methods and results, (3) conclusion.

(3) introduction,

The introduction should set the study in context by briefly reviewing relevant knowledge of the subject; follow this with a concise statement of the objectives of the study.

(4) methods,

Provide sufficient information for other workers to repeat the study. If well-established methods are used give a reference to the technique and provide full details of any modifications.

• Include the source of chemicals, reagents, and hormones, and give the manufacturer’s name and location (town, country) in parentheses.
• Give the generic name, dose and route of administration for drugs.
• Specify the composition of buffers, solutions, and culture media.
• Use SI symbols, give concentrations in mol/L, and define the term % as w/v or v/v for all solutions. For international units use IU (U should be used for enzyme activity).
• Specify the type of equipment (microscopes/objective lenses, cameras, detectors) used to obtain images.
• Specify any image acquisition software used, and describe specialized techniques requiring large amounts of processing,

(5) results,

The results should read as a narrative leading the reader through the experiments and investigations performed.

 (6) discussion,

Should not simply re-state results, but should put them in the broader context and highlight the importance and novelty of the work.

(7) references,

All references cited in the text must be included in the reference list and vice versa. However, if a reference consists of only a web address do not include it in the reference list but cite it in the text, giving the date the page was accessed.

 (8) text tables,

Tables should be concise. Tables too large for print publication should be submitted as supplementary data. 

• Number tables in the order they are cited in the text
• Include a title – a single sentence at the head of the table that includes the name of the organism studied
• Use footnotes to provide any additional explanatory material, cross-referenced to the column entries
• Give a short heading for each column
• Do not use internal horizontal or vertical lines, color or shading
• Explain all abbreviations used in the table in the footnotes

(9) figure legends(no more than 10).

• Number figures in the order they are cited in the text
• Include legends to all figures, giving the figure number, keys to any symbols used, the name of the organism studied, the names of any statistical tests used and the probability levels used for comparisons
• Label figure sections as A, B etc in the top left-hand corner
• Use Arial or a similar sans-serif font for text labels
• Do not enclose figures in boxes
• Indicate magnification by a scale bar in the bottom right-hand corner of the image and give the measurement in the legend
• Use the preferred symbols of closed and open circles, squares and triangles. Ensure that symbols are large enough to be read clearly when the figure is reduced for publication

Original articles should not exceed 5000 words (including references, figure legends and tables) and a maximum of 50 references.

Use double line spacing throughout (including reference list and figure legends), and contain continuous line numbering down the left side of each page.