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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inorganic mercury (Hg²⁺) exposure on biochemical parameters of dams and their offspring exposed to metal in drinking water. Female Wistar rats were exposed to 0, 10, and 50 µg Hg²⁺/mL (as HgCl₂) for 42 days corresponding to gestational (21 days) and lactational (21 days) periods. The offspring were sacrificed on postnatal days 10, 20, 30, and 40. Dams exposed to Hg²⁺ presented a decrease in water intake in gestation [total: F(2,19) = 15.84; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.0001; daily: F(2,21) = 12.71; <i>p</i> = 0.0002] and lactation [total: F(2,19) = 4.619; <i>p</i> = 0.024; daily: F(2,21) = 5.309; <i>p</i> = 0.0136] without alteration in food intake. Dams exposed to 50 µg Hg²⁺/mL had an increase in kidney total [F(2,21) = 8.081; <i>p</i> = 0.0025] and relative [F(2,21) = 14.11; <i>p</i> = 0.0001] weight without changes in biochemical markers of nephrotoxicity. Moreover, dams had an increase in hepatic [F(2,10) = 3.847; <i>p</i> = 0.0577] and renal [F(2,11) = 6.267; <i>p</i> = 0.0152] metallothionein content concomitantly with an increase in renal Hg levels after Hg²⁺ exposure. Regarding offspring, the exposure to Hg²⁺  <i>in utero</i> and breast milk increased the relative liver [F(2,18) = 5.33; <i>p</i> = 0.0152] and kidney [F(2,18) = 3.819; <i>p</i> = 0.0415] weight only on the postnatal day 40. In conclusion, dams were able to handle the Hg²⁺ avoiding the classic Hg²⁺ toxic effects as well as protecting the offspring. We suggest that this protection is related to the hepatic and renal metallothionein content increase.