proliferative

Proliferative is an adjective describing processes or conditions characterized by proliferation, the rapid multiplication of cells or organisms. In biology, proliferation refers to cell division leading to tissue growth or regeneration. Proliferative activity can be physiological, as during embryonic development, wound healing, and the menstrual cycle's proliferative phase where the endometrium thickens under estrogen stimulation, preparing for possible implantation. It can also be pathological, reflecting abnormal or excessive cell division.

In medicine and pathology, the term proliferative is used to describe tissues or diseases with notable cellular proliferation. For example proliferative endometrium refers to endometrium that has thickened due to estrogen-driven cell growth. Proliferative lesions are those showing increased cell production and may be seen in skin, kidney, or glandular tissues. In oncology, terms like proliferative index or Ki-67 labeling indicate the fraction of cells undergoing division and help assess tumor aggressiveness.

In ophthalmology, proliferative vitreoretinopathy is a scarring condition driven by retinal cell proliferation after injury; in ophthalmic diseases, proliferative diabetic retinopathy involves growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina—neovascularization reflecting underlying proliferative processes.

The word is also used in botany and microbiology to denote rapid growth or replication of plant tissues or microbial populations. Proliferation underpins normal development as well as disease, and it is a central concept in studies of growth, regeneration, cancer, and therapeutic strategies aimed at controlling abnormal cell division.