Plastic box, by Hoechst AG, used to store three samples of serotonine prepared by Maurice Rapport

Serotonin was first isolated and described in 1948 by Maurice Rapport, Arda Green (1899-1958) and Irving Page (1901-1911) at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, USA. Serotonin is present in the brain, blood platelets and blood serum and causes contraction of muscles. Changing levels of serotonin are believed to affect a person’s mood. The compound is also a neurotransmitter, carrying nerve impulses across gaps in the nerves known as synapses. Serotonin has also been used to treat clinical depression. Maurice Rapport prepared this sample. It is shown here with similar examples of serotonin (1986-1957 and 1986-1958).