BDNF and congenital rubella syndrome: The qRT-PCR and western blot assays results showed that the expression of p-ERK1, p-ERK2, CREB and BDNF were significantly downregulated in CRS group compared with control group while paeoniflorin could elevate the expression of these genes compared with CRS group (Figure 4a-b, mean ± SD, p < 0.01).