Serine hydrolase that hydrolyzes arachidonic acid-esterified diacylglycerols (DAGs) to produce the principal endocannabinoid, 2- arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) (PubMed:14610053, PubMed:23502535, PubMed:26668358). Preferentially hydrolyzes sn-1 fatty acids from diacylglycerols (DAG) that contain arachidonic acid (AA) esterified at the sn-2 position to biosynthesize 2-AG (PubMed:14610053, PubMed:23502535, PubMed:26668358). Has negligible activity against other lipids including monoacylglycerols and phospholipids (PubMed:14610053). Plays a key role in regulating 2-AG signaling in the central nervous system (CNS). Regulates 2-AG involved in retrograde suppression at central synapses. Supports axonal growth during development and adult neurogenesis. Plays a role for eCB signaling in the physiological regulation of anxiety and depressive behaviors. Also regulates neuroinflammatory responses in the brain, in particular, LPS- induced microglial activation (By similarity). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q6WQJ1, ECO:0000269|PubMed:14610053, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23502535, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26668358}. This is the function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000134780 (DAGLA, diacylglycerol lipase alpha).