Disclosed is a method of treating sperm cells during processing to improve cell integrity comprising the steps of: a. processing the sperm cell sample; and b. adding vitamin B12 and alpha ketoglutarate, each in the concentration range of 0.01 mg/ml to 5 mg/ml, to the sperm cell sample to form a sperm cell composition. Also disclosed is a processed sperm sample comprising a sperm cell sample that has been subjected to one or more processing steps and contains vitamin B12 and alpha ketoglutarate, each in the concentration range of 0.01 mg/ml to 5 mg/ml.