In the present study, we observed the significant activation of ERK1/2 and TGF-β1 (Fig. 7F, 7G) as well as significant activation of p38MAPK and HSP27 (Fig. 7B, 7D) in cardiac tissues, by high salt intake, leading to cardiac interstitial fibrosis, perivascular fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy slightly in the WKY groups and substantially in the SHR group. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and Interstitial cardiac fibrosis.