Spatiotemporal resolution of BDNF neuroprotection against glutamate excitotoxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons

► Caspase inhibition and pre-incubation with BDNF abrogate excitotoxicity-induced chromatin condensation. ► Proteasome/calpains contribute to excitotoxicity-induced neurite damage. ► Proteasome/calpains do not contribute to excitotoxicity-induced chromatin condensation. ► Pre-incubation with BDNF protects neurites from excitotoxic damage. ► The protective effect of BDNF in neurites is mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and phospholipase C-γ (PLCγ).