Effect of sodium nitroprusside on feeding behavior, voluntary activity, and cloacal temperature in chicks

•Injection of SNP, a NO donor, induced anorexia and hypothermia in chicks.•SNP inhibited the feed passage through the crop.•SNP affected the plasma concentrations of corticosterone, glucose and nitrotyrosine.•Injection of SNP tended to change the activity of antioxidant enzymes in plasma.•IP but not ICV injection of SNP increased plasma NOx concentration.