HS diet significantly increases SBP and plasma aldosterone levels of SS rats. (A) SBP in SS rats fed with either NS or HS diet. SBP was measured on days 7, 14 and 21. *P < 0.05, significantly different from NS; n = 20. (B) Plasma aldosterone levels in SS rats fed with either NS or HS diet. Plasma aldosterone levels were measured at day 21. *P < 0.05, significantly different from NS; n = 20. (C) HS diet had no effect on heart weight as demonstrated by the HW/BW index, but significantly increased kidney weight as demonstrated by changes in the KW/BW index of SS rats, compared with NS diet. *P < 0.05 significantly different from NS; n = 10.