Identification and assessing the cultivars of Laminaria Lamx. (phaeophyceae) with molecular markers

Molecular markers were used to identify and assess cultivars of Laminaria Lamx. and to delineate their phylogenetic relationships. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used for detection. After screening, 11 primers were selected and they yielded 133 bands in all, of which approximately 99.2% were polymorphic. The genetic distances between gametophytes ranged from 0.412 to 0.956. Two clusters were formed with the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram based on the simple matching coefficient. All cultivars of Laminaria japonica Aresch. used for breeding in China fell into one cluster. L. japonica from Japan, L. saccharina (L.) Lam., and L. angustata Kjellm. formed the other cluster and showed higher genetic variation than L. japonica from China. Nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences, including internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) were studied and aligned. The nucleotides of the sequences ranged from 634 to 668, with a total of 692 positions including TTS1, ITS2, and the 5.8S coding region. The phylogenetic tree obtained by the neighbor-joining method favored, to some extent, the results revealed by RAPD analysis. The present study indicates that RAPD and ITS analyses could be used to identify and assess Laminaria germplasm and to distinguish some species and, even intraspecies, in Laminaria.

海带根中α-glucosidase 和PTP-1B 靶向生物活性物质的分离纯化及其抗糖尿病作用研究

海带根是一种治疗糖尿病的民间中药，在沿海地区有很长的民间用药历史。食用海带根能够有效降低糖尿病患者的血糖，起到治疗作用。本文目的在于发现海带根中抗糖尿病的天然活性物质并分析它们在糖尿病治疗中的靶点；进一步开发一种低价且无毒副作用的化学类新药或中药新药。 α-glucosidase和 PTP-1B是II型糖尿病的两个重要靶点，海带根提取物能同时作用于这两个靶点。通过抑制这两种酶，降低血糖水平，85%乙醇粗提物对两种酶的IC50分别为1589ug/ml、IC50 1271ug/ml。乙酸乙酯相和石油醚相分别抑制α-glucosidase和 PTP-1B，IC50分别为380ug/ml和220ug/ml。因此以α-glucosidase和 PTP-1B的抑制活性为导向，用天然产物化学的方法对活性成分进行追踪分离，寻找单体活性物质进而鉴定其结构。由于乙酸乙酯相具有α-glucosidase抑制活性，用硅胶柱层析（石油醚：丙酮5：1、1：1），（二氯甲烷：甲醇60：1、20：1、5：1），凝胶柱层析Sephadex LH20（二氯甲烷：甲醇1：1），HPLC （80% 甲醇-水），对α-glucosidase抑制剂进行分离，得到组分IC50 为3.6ug/ml。用质谱仪和核磁共振确定结构。 生物活性测定结果表明α-glucosidase和 PTP-1B是两种不同的物质，分别位于乙酸乙酯相和石油醚相。光照实验和高温实验表明抑制α-glucosidase的活性成分对光照和温度敏感。光照48h或者50℃ 12h而且对α-glucosidase的抑制活性显著降低，TLC检测并用FeCl3显色初步表明抑制α-glucosidase的活性成分可能是多数酚类物质。动物实验显示在1450ug/kg剂量下，乙酸乙酯相能够显著降低糖尿病小鼠血糖，与阴性对照组差异极显著（P<0.01）。表明，海带根提取物在体内和体外均呈现出抗糖尿病活性，是一种潜在的抗糖尿病药物。

三种红藻活性物质的发现及松节藻醇提物抗糖尿病药理研究

海藻是海洋生物中的一大类群，由于其特殊的生活环境，能够代谢产生大量结构独特多变和活性特殊多样的代谢产物，是化学和生物活性多样性研究的重要对象之一。我国海域辽阔，海藻资源丰富，为寻找结构新颖、生理活性独特的先导化合物，加强对海藻资源的开发利用，本论文对中国沿海的三种海洋红藻进行了化学成分和生物活性研究，同时对山东青岛海域生物量丰富的一种海洋红藻松节藻进行了动物体内抗糖尿病活性研究。 利用正相硅胶柱色谱、Sephadex LH-20柱色谱以及反相HPLC和重结晶等现代分离手段，对山东青岛沿海的红藻扇形叉枝藻（Gymnogongrus flabelliformis）进行了系统的化学成分研究，从中得到单体化合物26个，通过波谱学方法（IR、MS、NMR等）鉴定了他们的结构，分别为(3R,6R,7E)-(+)-3-O-phenylacetyl- 4,7-megastigmadiene-9-one（1），(3R,7E)-(-)-3-O-phenylacetyl-5,7-megastigmadiene -9-one（2），(3S,6R,7E)-(+)-3-hydroxyl-4,7-megastigmadien-9-one（3），(3S,5R,6S,7E)- (-)-3-hydroxy-5,6-epoxy-7-megastigmene-9-one（4），(3S,5S,6R,7E)-(+)-3-hydroxy- 5,6-epoxy-7-megastigmene-9-one（5），Dehydrovomifoliol（6），(3R)-(-)-4-[(2R,4S)-4- acetoxy-2-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexylidene]-3-buten-2-one（7），2,3,3′-三溴-4,4′,5,5′-四羟基-1′-乙氧甲基双苯基甲烷（8），2,2′,3,3′-四溴-4,4′,5,5′-四羟基双苯基甲烷（9），3-溴-4,5-二羟基苯甲醛（10），2,3-二溴-4,5-二羟基苯甲基甲醚（11），2,3-二溴-4,5-二羟基苯甲醇（12），N, N-二甲基酪胺（13），4-羟基苯甲酸乙酯（14），4-羟基苯甲基乙醚（15），4-羟基苯乙基乙酯（16），4-羟基苯乙酸甲酯（17），4-羟基苯甲醛（18），豆甾-4-烯-3-酮（19），胆甾-4-烯-3-酮（20），胆甾醇（21），尿嘧啶（22），尿嘧啶核苷（23），腺嘌呤核苷（24），丁二酸（25），5-羟基-4-甲基-5-戊基-2,5-二氢呋喃-2-酮（26）。其中化合物1、2为新化合物，化合物3为新天然产物，所有化合物均为首次从该属海藻中分离得到。通过 MTT 法对部分单体化合物进行了肿瘤细胞毒活性筛选, 结果表明，化合物8、9、10、12对筛选的所有细胞株均有较强细胞毒活性，化合物11对人肺癌细胞株（A549）、人肝癌细胞株（Bel 7402）、人结肠癌细胞株（HCT-8）有一定细胞毒活性。通过研究单体化合物对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TNF-分泌的影响，对其进行抗炎活性筛选，结果表明，化合物8、9、11、13、17、23、24、25对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TNF-分泌表现出明显的抑制作用。 从采自山东荣成镆铘岛的红藻小珊瑚藻（Corallina pilulifera）的乙酸乙酯萃取物中分离得到16个单体化合物，通过波谱学方法鉴定化合物结构14个（另外2个正在鉴定中），分别为2α-乙氧酰基-2β-羟基-A-降胆甾-5-烯-4-酮（27），胆甾-4-烯-3-酮（28），胆甾醇（29），3β-羟基-胆甾-5,24(28)-二烯-7-酮（30），2α-羟基-胆甾-4-烯-3-酮（31），6α-羟基-胆甾-4-烯-3-酮（32），3β-羟基-胆甾-5-烯-7-酮（33），(E)-phytol epoxide（34），Phytenal（35），3,7,11,15- tetramethyl-hexadec-2-en-1-oll（Phytol）（36），Loloilide（37），(3S,5R,6S,7E)-(-)-3-hydroxy-5,6-epoxy-7- megastigmene-9-one（38），Dehydrovomifoliol（39），4-羟基苯甲醛（40）。其中，化合物 31为新天然产物，化合物27为首次从植物中分离得到，所有化合物均为首次从该种海藻中分离得到。通过 MTT 法对分离得到的单体化合物进行了肿瘤细胞毒活性筛选,化合物27和化合物32对筛选的所有肿瘤细胞株均有细胞毒活性，且化合物27对人胃癌细胞株（BGC-823）、人结肠癌细胞株（HCT-8）和人卵巢癌细胞株（A2780）具有中等强度抑制活性。化合物28、化合物31和化合物33对人肝癌细胞株（Bel 7402）、人结肠癌细胞株（HCT-8）和人卵巢癌细胞株（A2780）有一定细胞毒活性。 从采自广西北海涠洲岛的多管藻Polysiphonia sp.的乙酸乙酯萃取物中分离得到6个单体化合物，通过波谱学方法鉴定化合物结构5个（另外1个仍在鉴定），分别为胆甾醇（41），3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-hexadec-2-en-1-ol（Phytol）（42），3-吲哚甲醛（43），4-羟基苯甲醛（44），4-羟基苯甲酸（45）。 对山东青岛沿海的松节藻 (Rhodomela confervoides) 乙醇提取物进行了初步的体内抗糖尿病活性研究，采用链脲佐菌素诱导的2型糖尿病（STZ-DM）大鼠模型对其进行体内降糖实验，结果发现，松节藻乙醇提取物在糖尿病大鼠体内不仅具有显著的降血糖作用，且呈现良好的量–效关系，而且能够纠正糖尿病引发的物质代谢紊乱，增加体重，提高试验动物的成活率，因此具有良好的应用开发前景。

复方治疗慢性肾衰海洋新药的初步研究

该论文在褐藻多糖硫酸酯已有研究工作的基础上,参考中药治肾病领域有关文献,结合中医药理论,组方成治疗慢性肾衰复方海洋新药-复方褐藻多糖硫酸酯,并进行了复方褐藻多糖硫酸酯的部分药学、初步药效学和急性毒性试验的研究.

PTP1B抑制剂的制备与构效关系研究

蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶1B（protein tyrosine phosphatase, PTP1B）是蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶（protein tyrosine phosphatases, PTPs）家族中的一个经典的非受体型酪氨酸磷酸酶，在胰岛素信号通路中起着重要的负调控作用，是目前公认的一个新颖的糖尿病和肥胖症治疗靶点。寻找PTP1B的高活性抑制剂对糖尿病和肥胖症治疗有着重要的应用前景。 双-(2,3-二溴-4,5-二羟基苯基)-甲烷（BDDPM）是从松节藻醇提物中分离鉴定出的溴酚类化合物，体外活性筛选发现，它具有极强的蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶1B(PTP1B)抑制活性(IC50=2.4μmol/L)。采用高脂饮食-链脲佐菌素诱导的大鼠模型（STZ-DM）对富含BDDPM的松节藻醇提物进行动物实验，发现中、高剂量组同样表现出惊人的活性，降糖效果优于阳性对照临床药物文迪雅，并呈剂量依赖性。于是拟采用STZ-DM大鼠模型对单一组分BDDPM进行药理、药效学等体内降糖活性研究，但体内动物实验需要30g以上BDDPM，所以首先要解决药源的问题。本文尝试从天然海藻提取分离和化学合成两种途径来解决BDDPM制备的问题。 首先本文尝试从松节藻中提取分离BDDPM的制备方法。通过正相硅胶色谱、凝胶Sephadex LH-20色谱和重结晶等纯化手段分离纯化目标化合物BDDPM，并借助IR，MS和NMR等技术确定了其化学结构。最终从常温风干的50kg松节藻干样品中分离得到7.8g BDDPM。由于松节藻藻体构成复杂，给分离纯化BDDPM带来极大困难，致使分离纯化过程耗费大量时间和金钱；并且原材料松节藻的采集也易受季节和原料短缺等自然因素的影响。所以，从天然海藻中分离纯化的方法不适宜用于BDDPM的制备。 本文的重点是对BDDPM（4e）的化学合成途径进行研究。本文通过5步合成法（Friedel-Craftz酰基化反应、苯环逐级溴代、羰基还原、羟基脱保护）成功地合成了BDDPM，合成总产率为23.6%。同时本文采用上述合成路线获得了四个系列共计20个溴酚系列衍生物（4e为目标产物BDDPM，其余19个为溴酚系列衍生物），其中10个为新化合物。合成的20个化合物经1H NMR、13C NMR、MSEI和IR进行了结构鉴定。合成的20个化合物在体外活性筛选中均表现出不同程度的PTP1B抑制活性，其中合成的目标产物4e具有与天然分离纯化获得的BDDPM同等效率的PTP1B抑制作用。 另外，通过比较四个系列化合物PTP1B抑制活性间的差异，对此类溴酚化合物的构效关系作了初步分析，结果表明：1．羰基官能团的存在会明显降低此类化合物的PTP1B抑制率；2．化合物中的羟基官能团被甲氧基保护后，PTP1B抑制活性会得到一定程度的加强；3．化合物苯环上溴原子取代基数目增多时，其PTP1B抑制率也会随之增强。但是，筛选结果中也有少部分化合物的PTP1B抑制作用与上述规则相违背。因此，本文总结的初步构效关系还需要进一步的实验研究加以验证。 最后本文通过化学合成的方法，经过5步反应成功地制备出了30g BDDPM，为后续的药理、药效学研究奠定了基础。

Spatial distributions and seasonal variations of particulate phosphorus in the Jiaozhou Bay in North China

Based oil the measurements of particulate phosphorus (PP) in the Jiaozhou Bay front May 2003 to April 2004, the spatial distribution, seasonal variation and biogeochemical characteristics of PP Were investigated to Understand the fates and roles of phosphorus in the Jiaozhou Bay ecosystem. The Concentration of the total PP ranged from 0. 07 to 2. 09 mu mol/dm(3). The concentration of POP was from 0. 01 to 1. 83 mu mol/dm(3), with all average of with all average of 0. 33 mu mol/dm(3), which accounted for 50. 4% in total PP. In general, file concentrations of IT in surface water show obvious seasonal variations in the Jiaozhou Bay. POP was the highest in spring, which derived front the accumulation of phyto-detritus and was the lowest ill autumn, which was decomposed into seawaters to participate the recycle of phosphorus. PIP was the highest in spring and summer and Was the lowest in autumn and winter. PLP Was Mainly influenced by river input in the inner bay lint POP derived front autochthonous source in the outer bay. Overkill, the concentrations of IT in the inner bay were higher than those in mouth and the Older bay. In the inner bay. the concentrations of IT with the area near the shore were higher than those in the center of the bay. Totally PP showed the decreasing trend with depth especially in spring and winter. The high value of PP emerged in 20 and 10 in Corresponding to summer and autumn, respectively. The changes of POP showed hysteretic effect compared with the changes of Chl a in the investigated year. However, according to the Change of Chl a, the second high value of POP which should be emerged ill October was missing due to the remineralization of POP and participation in the recycle of phosphorus, which lead to the high concentration of orthophosphate in seawaters.

The effects of spring-neap tide on the phytoplankton community development in the Jiaozhou Bay, China

The development of the phytoplankton community was studied in the Jiaozhou Bay during the spring to neap tide in August 2001, through three cruises and a 15 d continuous observation. This investigation indicates that diatom cell abundance increased sharply following the end of a spring tide, from 9 cells/cm(3) to a peak of 94 cells/cm(3). The dominant species composition and abundance show a quick species sequence from spring to neap tide, and the dominant species at the start phase is Skeletomena costatum, then changes to Chaetoceros curvisetus, finally it changes to Eucampia zodiacus. Silicate concentration increases during spring tide, as a result of nutrient replenishment from the water-sediment interface, its initial average concentration in neap tide is 1.39 mumol/dm(3) and reached the peak average concentration of 8.40 mumol/dm(3) in spring tide. But the nitrogen concentration dropped due to dilution by the low nitrogen seawater from the Huanghai Sea, its initial average concentration in neap tide is 67 mumol/dm(3) and decreased to the average concentration of 54 mumol/dm(3) in spring tide. The degree of silicon limitation was decreased and phytoplankton, especially diatoms, responds immediately after nutrient replenishment in the water column. Skeletonmea costatum, as one of the dominant species in the Jiaozhou Bay, shows a quicker response to nutrient availability than Eucampia zodiacus and Chaetoceros curvisetus. It is proposed that dominant species composition and water column stability synchronously determine the development of phytoplankton summer blooms in the Raozhou bay.

Flocculation and removal of the brown tide organism, Aureococcus anophagefferens (Chrysophyceae), using clays

Previous attempts to remove the brown tide organism, Aureococcus anophagefferens, through flocculation with clays have been unsuccessful, in spite of adopting concentrations and dispersal protocols that yielded excellent cell removal efficiency (RE>90%) with other species, so a study was planned to improve cell removal. Four modifications in clay preparation and dispersal were explored: 1) varying the salinity of the clay suspension; 2) mixing of the clay-cell suspension after clay addition; 3) varying of concentration of the initial clay stock; 4) pulsed loading of the clay slurry. The effect of salinity was dependent on the clay mineral type: phosphatic clay (IMC-P2) had a higher RE than kaolinite (H-DP) when seawater was used to disperse the clay, but H-DP removed cells more efficiently when suspended in distilled water prior to application. Mixing after dispersal approximately doubled RE for both clays compared to when the slurry was layered over the culture surface. Lowering the concentration of clay stock and pulsing the clay loading increased RE, regardless of mineral type. However, this increase was more apparent for clays dispersed in seawater than in distilled water. In general, application procedures that decrease the rate of self-aggregation among the clay particles and increase the collision frequency between clay particles and A. anophagefferens achieve higher cell removal efficiency. These empirical studies demonstrated that clays might be an important control option for the brown tide organism, given the proper attention to preparation, dispersal methods, environmental impacts, and the hydrodynamic properties of the system being treated. Implications for the treatment of brown tides in the field are discussed.

Experimental evaluation of heterobeltiosis and heterosis between two populations of Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino

A2 x 2 factorial cross between two populations of Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino, collected separately from Dalian (D) in China and Miyagi (M) in Japan, was conducted to compare performances in fertilization rate, hatching rate, metamorphosis rate and growth at days 20, 43, 160 and 330 between purebreds (DD and MM) and crossbreds (DM and MD) and investigate the magnitude of heterobeltiosis (better parent) and heterosis (mid-parent). Heterobeltiosis and heterosis for all the traits analyzed were evidently different between crossbreds DM and MD. Heterobeltiosis in the crossbred DM varied among traits, with values of 2.5% for the fertilization rate, 2.2% for the hatching rate, -1.9% for the metamorphosis rate and 7.4% for the growth at the (lay 330. The crossbred DM displayed positive heterotic values for fertilization rate (5.4%), hatching rate (7.4%), metamorphosis rate (7.6%) and growth (12.0%) at the day 330. However, both heterobeltiosis and heterosis for all the traits in the crossbred MD were negative except those for the growth at days 20 and 43. The results indicate the importance of selecting superior hybrid varieties if the exploitation of hybrid vigor is considered in the Pacific abalone breeding program.

Studies on two coordination polymers [M(mu(4)-pz25dc)](n) (M = Cd or Zn, pz25dc=pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylato) with three-dimensional pillared-layer three-nodal framework: Synthesis, structural characterization, strong optical non-linearities and optical limiting properties

Two isomorphous new candidates [M(mu(4)-pz25dc)](n) (M = Cd, 1; Zn, 2; pz25dc = pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylato)for nonlinear optical (NLO) materials have been synthesized hydrothermally and characterized crystallographically as pillared-layer three-nodal frameworks with one four-connected metal nodes and two crystallographically different four-connected ligand nodes. Their optical non-linearities are measured by the Z-Scan technique with an 8 ns pulsed laser at 532 nm. These two coordination polymers both exhibit strong NLO absorptive abilities [alpha(2) = (63 +/- 6) x 10 (12) mW (1) 1, ( 46 +/- 6) x 10 (11) mW (1) 2] and effective self-focusing performance [n(2) = (67 +/- 5) x 10 (18) 1, (13 +/- 3) x 10 (18) m(2) W (1) 2] in 1.02 x 10 (4) 1 and 1.05 x 10 (4) mol dm (3) 2 DMF solution separately. The values of the limiting threshold are also measured from the optical limiting experimental data. The heavy atom effect plays important role in the enhancement of optical non-linearities and optical limiting properties. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

体外产气法评定天祝几种高山植物的抗营养因子及饲用潜力

比较和分析了6种富含单宁的家畜可饲高山植物粗蛋白、酸性洗涤纤维、粗灰分的含量．并对其酚类物质的含量进行了测定。结合体外产气技术（invitro gas production method），对各种植物和添加聚乙烯二醇（PEG）的体外产气量和干物质降解率进行测定。结果表明．灌木粗蛋白含量较高．藏沙棘高达14．3％．缩合单宁含量随植物品种不同而变化，藏沙棘、金露梅和珠芽蓼含量分别为42．45．35．24．32．98g／kg（DM）。添加PEG后。珠芽蓼、藏沙棘、金露梅和鬼箭锦鸡儿的产气量分别增加了36．9％．38．9％．16．4％和8．6％。

Feeding behaviour of yaks on spring, transitional, summer and winter pasture in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau

Of the present estimated world population of 14.2 million yaks, approximately 13.3 million occur within Chinese territories (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2003). Although there is an extensive bibliography covering the species, few studies have been conducted in the area of foraging behaviour. The present study was conducted at pasture during the spring, transitional, summer and winter seasons to determine the daily temporal patterns of grazing and ruminating behaviour by yaks. During each study period, two 24 h recordings were undertaken with each of six mature dairy yaks. One study period was conducted on each of the transitional, summer and winter pastures, whereas, due to the considerable changes occurring in the morphology of the spring pasture, three separate studies were completed during March, April and May. During the second of these studies (April), the effect of level of concentrate supplementation on grazing and ruminating behaviour was also examined. Behaviour recordings were made using solid-state behaviour recorders. Short-term intake rates (IR, g min(-1)) were calculated by weighing yaks before and after approximately 1 h of grazing, retaining the faeces and urine excreted and applying a correction for insensible weight loss. Yaks spent less time grazing during the dry season (the early period on the spring pasture) compared with the later green swards (the later period on the spring pasture, the transitional pasture and the summer pasture) (P < 0.05). When the forage quality improved, but there was still insufficient mass (the later period on the spring pasture), the yaks extended their grazing time at the expense of other activities. During the early periods on the spring pasture, the short-term IR by yaks was up to 53 g DM min(-1), significantly higher than at other times (P < 0.05). The level of concentrate offered had little or no effect on grazing or ruminating time. The total eating time of the yaks offered 0.5 or 1.0 kg concentrate was 2.9 and 4.5 h day(-1) respectively, significantly lower than unsupplemented yaks (6.8 h) (P < 0.05). In general, yaks can regulate their foraging behaviour according to the changes of sward conditions in order to achieve optimal grazing strategies. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Effects of forage composition and growing season on methane emission from sheep in the Inner Mongolia steppe of China

Understanding the effects of dietary composition on methane (CH4) production of sheep can help us to understand grassland degradation resulting in an increase of CH4 emission from ruminant livestock and its resulting significance affecting CH4 source/sink in the grazing ecosystem. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of forage composition in the diet of sheep in July and August on CH4 production by sheep in the Inner Mongolia steppe. The four diet treatments were: (1) Leymus chinensis and Cleistogenes squarrosa (LC), (2) Leymus chinensis, Cleistogenes squarrosa and concentrate supplementation (LCC), (3) Artemisia frigida and Cleistogenes squarrosa (AC), and (4) Artemisia frigida, Cleistogenes squarrosa and concentrate supplementation (ACC). CH4 production was significantly lower in July than in August (31.4 and 36.2 g per sheep-unit per day, respectively). The daily average CH4 production per unit of digestive dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) increased by 10.9, 11.2 and 42.1% for the AC diet compared with the LC diet, respectively. Although concentrate supplementation in both the AC and LC diets increased total CH4 production per sheep per day, it improved sheep productivity and decreased CH4 production by 14.8, 12.5 and 14.8% per unit of DM, OM and NDF digested by the sheep, respectively. Our results suggested that in degraded grassland CH4 emission from sheep was increased and concentrate supplementation increased diet use efficiency. Sheep-grazing ecosystem seems to be a source of CH4 when the stocking rate is over 0.5 sheep-units ha(-1) during the growing season in the Inner Mongolia steppe.

The effect of supplementary feeds on the bodyweight of yaks in cold season

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementary feeds, oat hay (OH), highland barley straw (HBS) and multi-nutrient blocks supplementation (UMMB) on reducing liveweight losses of both yak cows and calves grazed on low quality pastures during cold season. The trials of OH and HBS supplementation were conducted by using completely random design on 104 yak cows between 6 and 12 years of age as the following treatments: pure grazing (41 animals, body weight 230 67 kg) as control (CK); grazing+1.5 kg DM of OH per head daily (30 animals, body weight 216 28 kg); gazing. 1.5 kg DM of HBS per head daily (33 animals, body weight 221 34 kg). The trial of UMMB was conducted on three types of yaks, 1-year calves (8-12 months old, body weight 61.1 6.9 kg), 2-year calves (18-24 months old, 98.0 11.3 kg) and yak cows (164.5 27.1 (S.D.) kg) with 20 animals in control group (CK) and 20 animals in supplement group for each type by using completely random design as the following treatments: pure grazing for CK group; grazing+ 150, 250 and 500 g UMMB per day averagely for 1-year calf, 2-year calf and cow at night. The results indicate that the animals supplemented with oat hay received body weight gain (32 20.7 g day(-1)), while those supplemented with highland barley straw still suffered from body weight loss (-56.7 39.3 a day(-1)); UMMB supplementation can decrease the body weight loss by 109.7%, 86.6% and 63.4% for the 1-year calves, 2-year calves and yak cows, respectively, as compared with pure grazing. Around US$1.60 output can be achieved on the basis of US$1 input for UMMB supplementation in the farming systems of the 1-year calves, 2-year calves and yak cows, while US$1 input can produce US$1.55 and 1.14 output for OH and FIBS supplementations, respectively, in yak cows' farming system. It can be preliminary concluded that UMMB supplementation was the most economic way to alleviate body weight loss of grazing yaks over cold season, and the higher productive returns were obtained from OH supplementation for grazing yak cows during winter/spring months. © 2004 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.