title: Correlation of domestic violence during pregnancy with plasma amino-acid neurotransmitter, cortisol levels and catechol-o-methyltransferase Val(158)Met polymorphism in neonates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To explore the correlation between domestic violence during pregnancy and glutamate (Glu), r-aminobutyric acid (GABA), plasma cortisol levels and catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphism (rs4818) in neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Abuse Assessment Survey, 64 abused pregnant women (DV) and 117 non-abused pregnant women (non-DV) were screened for two study groups. Blood in neonatal umbilical vein was collected immediately after delivery. Plasma Glu, GABA, cortisol levels and rs4818 polymorphism in the genotypes and alleles of the two neonatal groups were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the DV group, 49 women (76.6%) experienced emotional abuse, 29 women (45.3%) experienced sexual abuse, 28 (43.8%) women experienced emotional abuse plus sexual abuse, and two women (3.1%) experienced emotional abuse plus physical abuse. We found that plasma Glu, GABA and cortisol levels were higher in DV neonates than in non-DV neonates. Furthermore, we observed a significantly positive correlation between maternal emotional abuse, sexual abuse and plasma levels of Glu, GABA and cortisol in neonates. By genetic analysis we found a significant difference in rs4818SNP genotype and allele between the two neonatal groups. The ratios of CC genotype and C allele were higher in DV neonates than in non-DV neonates, and the ratios of GG genotype and G allele were lower in DV neonates than in non-DV neonates. One-way ANOVA test showed that GABA level was lower in CC carriers than CG carriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Domestic violence during pregnancy might be associated with increased plasma levels of glutamate, GABA, cortisol and COMT gene polymorphism in neonates.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shaohong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Xianghui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yalin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D005838:Genotype; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: amino-acid neurotransmitter; catechol-o-methyltransferase gene polymorphism; cortisol; domestic violence; neonate