**8. Conclusions**

Liver biopsy investigation could soon shift from routine light microscopy to digital image analysis by virtual microscopy and incorporation of numerical measurements in conjunction with integrated analysis of cell functions at DNA, RNA, protein and signalling level. This shift could lead from static to dynamic tissue evaluation. The technological logistics should include the best standards of tissue fixation, processing, microtomy and visualisation com‐ plemented by automated immunostaining, full slide scanning to ensure complete digital analysis and optimal choice of software considering the biological appropriateness of the analysis algorithm.

As the diagnostic electron microscopy is continually developing, we expect that in future it will be used in hepatology as an auxiliary method, based on digital analysis of electrono‐ grams. Liver biopsy analysis using transmission and scanning electron microscope could continue to provide important additional information in diagnostic hepatology and scientif‐ ic research of liver diseases, as well as it could help to study unresolved molecular mecha‐ nisms regulating liver cells' functions. In future the ultrastructural studies of liver biopsy in hepatology will probably be associated with assessment of liver tissues in cases of liver transplantation, with studies of new medicinal products – detection or exclusion of their po‐ tential hepatotoxic effect, with identification of viruses, as well as with determination of in‐ fluence of various environmental hazards.
