Exposure to arsenic via drinking water is considered as a worldwide problem. Studies have shown that arsenic exposure during pregnancy aff ects embryogenesis and off spring development in rats and mice. Zinc as a micronutrient regulates many physiological functions, including an antioxidative role under various toxic conditions. However, studies on the perinatal protective eff ect of zinc on off spring need further attention. The present study was designed to evaluate the potential protective role of zinc in mitigating the adverse eff ects in the off spring of arsenic exposure during pregnancy. The arsenic (40mg/kg body weight) and zinc (4% w/v) doses formed the only drinking fl uid source for the experimental groups of dams during the perinatal period of the experiment. The early development of sensory motor coordination refl exes together with morphological development in the male pups was measured during the weaning period. In adolescence, the off spring were tested for their motor behavior. The enzyme γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) and the oxidative stress indices like reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) were also estimated in the serum of the young adult male mice. Perinatal arsenic exposure caused depletion in body weight gain, delay in morphological development and retardation in the development of all sensory motor refl exes of the pups. In young adults, signifi cant decrease in motor behavior with signifi cant decrease in GSH level in the serum was observed. On the other hand, γ-GT and TBARS were signifi cantly increased in the serum due to arsenic treatment. However, animals exposed to arsenic in the presence of zinc showed a remarkable ameliorating eff ect of zinc on all observed teratological and biochemical arsenic toxicity in male off spring. It was observed that zinc has an antioxidative role in the perinatal toxicity of arsenic. It is concluded from the present study that zinc consumed during the perinatal period of pregnancy can ameliorate the possible toxicities of arsenic exposure in the off spring by acting as an ameliorative supplement.